African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum opens with calls for coordinated action for accelerated progress

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 26 April 2026 - The Eighth African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum opened Sunday, ahead of the 12th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in Addis Ababa with calls for coordinated action to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.

The Forum, held under the theme "Achieving progress towards the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 through transformative and coordinated actions in science, technology and digital innovation," brought together ministers, senior policymakers, representatives of the African Union and United Nations system, private sector leaders, academia and civil society.

In his opening remarks, Belete Molla, Ethiopia' Minister for Innovation and Technology linked science, technology and innovation to sustainability, citing Ethiopia's work on reforestation, electric mobility, artificial intelligence, data infrastructure and emerging technologies, including peaceful applications of nuclear science for development outcomes in energy, agriculture and health. He stressed that STI should be treated as a practical development tool, not as an abstract ideal or a luxury reserved for developed countries.

Minister Berkeley also underscored continental cooperation, arguing that no country can innovate in isolation and called for stronger science diplomacy, harmonized approaches, interoperable systems and deeper collaboration.

For her part, Musenero Masanza, Uganda's Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation and outgoing Chair of the Seventh African STI Forum, reflected on progress since the previous forum in Kampala. She said the Kampala forum clarified that STI must be central to Africa's economic transformation, industrialization, value addition and job creation, rather than remaining confined to universities and research institutions.

On the continent's implementation gap, she said, Africa is "strong at convening but weak at continuing" and warned that the energy generated at forums often fades because of fragmented initiatives, weak collaboration, poor monitoring and insufficient follow-through. Using Uganda as an example, she described efforts to connect research to production and markets, which she called closing the "black box" between research and the economy.

Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA underlined the need for Africa to act with urgency, coordination and ambition to harness science, technology and digital innovation as drivers of economic transformation, inclusion and sustainable development.

"For Africa, the margin for delay has disappeared; The cost of inaction is rising. The choices we make today will determine whether we catch the next wave of global transformation, or miss it entirely," he said.

Mr. Gatete warned that despite the opportunities presented by emerging technologies, Africa continues to face significant digital and innovation gaps. Internet usage on the continent stood at just 36 per cent in 2025, with persistent divides between urban and rural areas and between men and women. Africa also accounts for only 0.6 per cent of global patent applications, despite representing nearly one-fifth of the world's population.

"These are signals of untapped potential, but also of urgent gaps we must close," he said, stressing that central question facing the continent is whether Africa will merely adapt to technologies shaped elsewhere, or play a decisive role in shaping how those technologies are designed, governed and deployed.

He said that science, technology and innovation are not optional accelerators of development, but the foundation on which progress towards both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union's Agenda 2063 will either be built or stalled.

Mr. Gatete pointed to practical examples already demonstrating the transformative power of innovation across the continent. In Kenya, climate-smart agricultural technologies are increasing crop yields while reducing input costs. In Rwanda, drone-based medical delivery systems have reduced wastage and cut stockout times, transforming health supply chains.

To turn innovation into broad-based transformation, Mr. Gatete outlined five strategic priorities for Africa.

First, he said, Africa must align science, technology and innovation with its economic transformation agenda to ensure that innovation translates into production, value addition and job creation. He cited examples from Morocco's industrial value chains in automotive and renewable energy, and South Africa's use of advanced manufacturing and digital tools.

Second, he called for accelerated investment in digital public infrastructure, including digital identity, interoperable payments and trusted data platforms. Such systems, he said, are essential for scaling innovation and improving service delivery, as shown by examples from Egypt, Ghana and Botswana.

Third, Mr. Gatete urged African countries to build future-ready skills at scale, particularly in science, engineering, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. He said Africa's young population represents an extraordinary asset, but only if education systems are aligned with the needs of the digital economy and if women and youth are fully included.

Fourth, he emphasized the importance of deeper regional and continental coordination, noting that innovation cannot scale in fragmented markets. Through the African Continental Free Trade Area, Africa has a platform to expand digital solutions, harmonize regulations and develop regional value chains in areas such as pharmaceuticals and digital services.

Fifth, he said Africa must secure reliable, affordable and sustainable energy to power its digital transformation. Data centres, digital infrastructure and emerging technologies are energy-intensive, and without clean and dependable energy, the continent's digital ambitions will remain constrained.

"Investing in energy systems is not separate from the digital agenda; it is foundational to it," Mr. Gatete stressed.

He also highlighted the importance of the upcoming regional consultation on AI governance, saying it offers Africa a critical opportunity to shape global norms and ensure that emerging technologies reflect the continent's realities, priorities and aspirations.

"The decisions we take here and the partnerships we forge will determine whether Africa enters the next decade as a consumer of innovation, or as a contributor of solutions to the world," Mr. Gatete said.

Additional high-level participants include Rita Bissoonauth, Director of the UNESCO Addis Ababa Liaison Office to the African Union and ECA and UNESCO Representative to Ethiopia; and Saidou Madougou, Director of the Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation at the African Union Commission.

Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: [email protected]