Africa’s Role in Global Technology and Innovation Explored at STI Forum

ADDIS ABABA – The Sixth African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum, held at the UNECA headquarters, delved into how African nations can harness technology for sustainable development and poverty eradication. The forum is part of the preliminary events leading up to the Tenth African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, Antonio Pedro, the forum is vital for promoting technological innovation and policy scaling to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063. Pedro emphasized the need for Africa to invest in human capital and learn to produce, sell, and utilize emerging technologies like AI and genomics, which could transform lives across the continent.

He highlighted the establishment of the Alliance of Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa in 2022, which aims to stimulate job creation and economic growth by encouraging university students to develop startups. Additionally, the launch of the Origin Research and Innovation Hub in Kenya marks a significant step towards building a problem-solving network in East Africa.

Pedro also noted the importance of coding camps for girls and women, which are part of efforts to empower young females to become tech entrepreneurs and innovators. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to leverage science and technology in improving living conditions and enhancing service delivery across Africa.