Background

The Africa Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Forum is convened to provide a venue for facilitating interaction, matchmaking and the establishment of networks between relevant stakeholders and multi-stakeholder partnerships in order to identify and examine technology needs and gaps, including on scientific cooperation, innovation and capacity-building for implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Forum has evolved into a pre-eminent continental platform for the exploration of complex challenges, initiating innovative solutions, showcasing emerging technological and innovation trends, instilling technical and entrepreneurial skills in young people and forging long-lasting partnerships and alliances.

Seventh African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum

The Seventh African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum (ARSTIF) will be held from 7-8 April 2025, in a hybrid format, in Kampala, Uganda. The Forum will undertake an in-depth review of Sustainable Development Goals: 3 – Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, 5 – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, 8 – Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, 14 – Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, and 17 – Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

The Forum will also look at ways in which Africa can accelerate the implementation of the recently adopted UN Digital Global Compact adopted at the Summit of the Future, and the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA) 2034. 

Theme

The theme of the seventh African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum will be “Driving job creation and economic growth through sustainable and inclusive science, technology and innovation solutions to meet the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063”. The theme is aligned with that of African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, which is “Driving job creation and economic growth through sustainable, inclusive, science-and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063”.

Objective

The overall objective of the seventh African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum is to conduct the regional follow-up and review of progress made, in order to identify potential mechanisms and measures that countries can deploy to scale up actions, facilitate peer learning and advance transformative solutions to accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the goals of Agenda 2063.

Expected outputs

The seventh Forum is expected to generate the following key outputs:

1. Report of the seventh African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum will inform the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development and the multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology and innovation in New York;
2. Outcome documents of special sessions and events will be produced and made available to member States and their institutions;
3. General guide on special initiative and their growth such as Origin Research and Innovation Labs and the Alliance of Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa will also be prepared.

Expected outcomes

The seventh African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum is specifically designed to foster the diffusion of technology and innovation, and scaling up of policy and operational efforts needed to accelerate the contribution of science, technology and innovation to fulfil the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In particular, the following will be the key tangible and intangible outcomes of the Forum:

1. Establishment of collaborative arrangements and partnerships between African universities and their partners inside and outside Africa;
2. Strengthened collaboration between public and private partners through platforms for exchanging information on research, funding and innovations; and 
3. High impact technologies, innovators and firms as well as R&D institutions making significant contribution to development showcased, and where possible, supported

Participants

The meeting will be attended by representatives of all African Member States of the United Nations, the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank, the regional economic communities, civil society, business and industry organizations, academic and research institutions, agencies and organizations of the United Nations system, and other international agencies and organizations, together with all development partners.