The Innovation and Techno-preneurship Acceleration Facility (ITAF) at SJUIT is a dynamic platform established to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-driven solutions among students, faculty, and the broader community. As a strategic initiative of the university, ITAF serves as a hub for nurturing creative ideas, advancing applied research, and transforming prototypes and innovations into viable products, services, or start-ups.

ITAF aims to create an ecosystem that connects academia, industry, investors, and government to accelerate the development of practical innovations and stimulate socio-economic growth through technology-based entrepreneurship (techno-preneurship).

The mandate of ITAF is to:
1) Promote innovation and entrepreneurship culture within the SJUIT community.
2) Support idea development, prototyping, and commercialization of research outputs and innovations.
3) Provide capacity building, mentorship, and incubation to early-stage start-ups and student-led ventures.
4) Facilitate linkages between innovators, industry, and investors to foster job creation and economic development.
5) Serve as a national and regional platform for addressing local challenges through science, technology, and innovation.

The facility executes its mandate through the following core functions:
Innovation Support and Product Development
1) Assist innovators in developing ideas into tangible prototypes or market-ready products.
2) Provide access to technical resources such as fabrication labs, software tools, and expert consultation.

Entrepreneurship Training and Mentorship
1) Offer training programs on business development, intellectual property, design thinking, and entrepreneurial leadership.
2) Connect aspiring entrepreneurs with experienced mentors, coaches, and industry experts.

Start-up Incubation and Acceleration
1) Incubate early-stage student and faculty ventures through structured acceleration programmes.
2) Provide co-working space, access to funding opportunities, and business support services.

Partnerships and Industry Engagement
1) Establish collaborations with private sector, government agencies, NGOs, and innovation hubs for joint projects, sponsorships, and market access.
2) Promote industry-academia knowledge transfer and collaborative innovation.

Competitions and Showcases
1) Organize hackathons, pitch contests, innovation fairs, and exhibitions to identify and promote promising ideas.
2) Support participation in national and international innovation competitions.

Commercialization and IP Management
1) Guide innovators through the process of patenting, licensing, and business registration.
2) Help turn research outputs into commercially viable products or services.

Research and Policy Advocacy 1) Promote applied research that responds to real-world challenges.
2) Provide policy input on innovation, digital economy, and entrepreneurship development.

The Innovation and Techno-preneurship Acceleration Facility plays a transformative role in positioning SJUIT as a center of excellence for innovation and enterprise development in Tanzania. By equipping students and researchers with entrepreneurial skills and support systems, ITAF contributes directly to the creation of jobs, wealth, and solutions for sustainable development.