By Baboloki Semele: Africa is set to convene the Seventh African Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Forum (ARSTIF) in Kampala, Uganda, from April 7 to April 8, 2025. This highly anticipated event will provide a platform for stakeholders to explore innovative solutions, identify technology gaps, and establish strategic partnerships aimed at accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The forum will be held in a hybrid format, allowing for both physical and virtual participation.
The Africa Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Forum has evolved into a crucial continental gathering where experts, policymakers, and entrepreneurs converge to address Africa’s pressing development challenges. The event is designed to facilitate matchmaking among stakeholders, enhance scientific cooperation, and build capacity for sustainable development through the application of technology and innovation.
A concept note detailing the forum says, held under the theme “Driving Job Creation and Economic Growth through Sustainable and Inclusive Science, Technology, and Innovation Solutions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063,” ARSTIF 2025 aligns with the overarching goals of the African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD).
The note says the forum aims to review Africa’s progress on several key SDGs, such as
- SDG 3: Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.
- SDG 5: Achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls.
- SDG 8: Promoting sustained and inclusive economic growth, productive employment, and decent work for all.
- SDG 14: Conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources.
- SDG 17: Strengthening global partnerships for sustainable development.
Additionally, the forum will deliberate on how Africa can fast-track the implementation of the UN Digital Global Compact adopted at the Summit of the Future, as well as the Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA) 2034.
The Seventh ARSTIF according to the note is poised to generate key outputs that will directly contribute to the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development and the multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology, and innovation in New York. These outputs include among others adetailed report that will provide insights into Africa’s progress and innovation landscape, outcome documents from special sessions that will be shared with member states and institutional stakeholders and a general guide highlighting initiatives such as the Origin Research and Innovation Labs and the Alliance of Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa. And the anticipated outcomes of the forum include, strengthened collaborations between African universities and global partners, enhanced cooperation between public and private entities to foster research and innovation funding and showcasing of high-impact technologies and groundbreaking innovations with the potential to drive sustainable development.
ARSTIF 2025 is expected to bring together a diverse range of participants, including representatives from African Union member states, the African Union Commission (AUC), African Development Bank (AfDB), regional economic communities, civil society organizations, private sector leaders, and academia. International organizations and development partners will also play a key role in shaping the discussions and outcomes of the forum. The concept note emphasizes tha with Africa’s economic and social transformation hinging on the effective application of science, technology, and innovation, the Seventh ARSTIF stands as a beacon for fostering sustainable growth and as the continent strives to meet its Agenda 2063 ambitions and the 2030 SDG targets, this forum will be instrumental in shaping policy frameworks, encouraging investments, and driving technological advancements that will define Africa’s future. As the countdown to April 2025 begins, all eyes are on Kampala, where Africa’s brightest minds will convene to chart a bold and innovative path forward.