Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) regularly registers research being conducted within Tanzania. Consequently, COSTECH collects information and documentation about past and ongoing research done within Tanzania. The information include particulars of people and institutions involved with research, research projects and areas in which research is conducted.

The information and documentation collected as part of the registration above is mainly hard copy. This makes it very difficulty if not at all impossible to disseminate the information and documentation to the wider audience needing such information and documentation.