A pan-African Research Infrastructure in Digital Sciences — blueprinting sovereign AI/ML capacity and next-generation connectivity across the continent.
Research infrastructure, artificial intelligence capabilities, and next-generation connectivity are not luxuries — they are foundations of sovereign intelligence and self-determined development.
DIGITAfrica is a collaborative EU–Africa Horizon Europe project designed to lay the groundwork for a pan-African Research Infrastructure in Digital Sciences. This showcase session presents the two cornerstone outputs: the AI/ML Blueprint and the Connectivity Blueprint.
These blueprints are co-designed for integrating artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced connectivity infrastructure across African institutions, with community feedback directly shaping their refinement.
Sovereign intelligence is not only about algorithms and models — it is about who owns the compute, who controls the data pipelines, and who governs the research agenda.
A comprehensive framework for integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities across African research institutions, built on guiding principles of equity and community ownership.
A next-generation 5G and post-5G architecture blueprint that establishes open-source infrastructure for African scientific research and underpins the broader digital science infrastructure vision.
Scene-setting on why Africa's digital research infrastructure matters now. Overview of DIGITAfrica — its vision, 13-partner consortium, and its alignment with the Indaba 2026 Sovereign Intelligence theme. Introduction to the co-design methodology behind both blueprints.
Dedicated presentation covering guiding principles, key use cases, and the four pillars. Discussion of what the blueprint means in practice for African AI research institutions — from compute access to training programmes.
Dedicated presentation covering the connectivity architecture, open-source infrastructure approach, and post-5G services for African scientific research. Illustration of how next-generation connectivity underpins the broader digital science infrastructure vision.
This session will feature a live demonstration of an On-Device Federated Learning system in action, showcasing how decentralized machine learning can be practically implemented and scaled across local devices without compromising data privacy.
An open floor for researchers, students, policymakers, and practitioners. Questions submitted in real time via a live digital tool are addressed alongside verbal questions from the room. While this segment covers both blueprints and the project as a whole, attendees are highly encouraged to bring forward their techinical and operational inquiries following the live demonstration on the On-Device Federated Learning system.
Invitation to join the DIGITAfrica Community of Practice. Presentation of upcoming opportunities. Distribution of e-brochures and project materials via QR code. Closing remarks and thanks.
The organising team reflects the pan-continental nature of DIGITAfrica, with representation from West, East, Southern, Northern, and Central Africa, as well as Europe.
University of Ngaoundere
🇨🇲 Cameroon
University of Manouba
🇹🇳 Tunisia
University of Ngaoundere
🇨🇲 Cameroon
University of Manouba
🇹🇳 Tunisia
University of Cape Town
🇿🇦 South Africa
INRIA
🇫🇷 France
University of Thessaly
🇬🇷 Greece
All levels, from students to senior researchers interested in African research infrastructure and enabling conditions for African-led AI.
Early-career researchers exploring research opportunities, training programmes, and continental partnerships.
Practitioners working on digital infrastructure, data governance, or AU-EU science cooperation.
Innovators working on 5G, open-source networks, or AI deployment at scale in African contexts.
Capacity builders interested in DIGITAfrica training programmes and Summer School opportunities.
Help shape Africa's digital science future. Connect with researchers, policymakers, and practitioners across the continent and contribute to blueprint refinement.
Express your interest →