Visionary science stems from African-led research
Online dialogue on building capacity for science, technology and innovation (STI) in Africa Date: 16 -17 November 2021
Registration is open in three languages of English | French and Portuguese.
Africa, a continent with 16% of the global population produces approximately 1% of the global knowledge output, measured through peer reviewed scientific articles[1]. Part of the reason for this is the comparably low number of researchers and academics -198 African researchers per million people compared to 4,500 per million in the United Kingdom and the United States of America and global average of 1,150 per million. Responding to key African challenges such as the covid-19 pandemic will require a cadre of scientists, innovators to lead the development of homegrown solutions and to further advance Africa’s knowledge economy aspirations.
The Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) is the flagship initiative of the Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET). Led by African governments, PASET aims to address fundamental gaps in skills and knowledge necessary for long-term, sustained economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). RSIF aims to support PhD training, research and innovation in African universities that are selected as centres of excellence in fields identified by PASET as priority economic sectors for growth and development: ICTs including big data and artificial intelligence; food security and agribusiness; minerals, mining and materials engineering; energy including renewables; and climate change. RSIF builds capacity in the region to sustainably support those PhD scientists beyond their training as they go into academia, industry, or become entrepreneurs in fields with far reaching positive impact in society.
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), RSIF’s Regional Coordination Unit, in collaboration with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and other partners will host an online dialogue on building capacity for science, technology and innovation (STI) in Africa on 16 and 17 November 2021. Registration is open in three languages of English | French and Portuguese. This will be preceded by internal meetings on 15 November 2021 for Vice Chancellors of African host Universities (AHUs), AHU Faculty, International Partner institutions (IPIs) and PhD Scholars. The pre-conference will bring together African government, private sector and development partner representatives, experts in STI and higher education, faculty and PhD students. We invite you to register and be part of this important two-day online dialogue.
The pre-conference objectives are.
i) Share key relevant advances in science, technology and innovation (STI) and higher education in Africa and globally; and
ii) Review key achievements and progress of the African government-led Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology flagship programme, the RSIF to date. We will receive input from participants on how to enhance PASET RSIF’s relevance to countries and contribution to private sector development.
Details of the various sessions may be accessed on the conference website.
For more information, questions, and inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Maureen Agena
Sr. Communications Specialist
Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF), icipe
Zineb Azmi
Chargée de Mission at President’s Office
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P)
