Africa is gearing up for the Seventh African Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Forum (ARSTIF), scheduled for April 7-8, 2025, in Kampala, Uganda. This pivotal event will unite stakeholders to explore groundbreaking solutions, bridge technology gaps, and forge partnerships to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Now a cornerstone of continental dialogue, ARSTIF brings together experts, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to tackle Africa’s development challenges. It fosters matchmaking, boosts scientific collaboration, and builds capacity for sustainable progress through technology and innovation.
According to the event’s concept note, the 2025 forum, themed “Driving Job Creation and Economic Growth through Sustainable and Inclusive Science, Technology, and Innovation Solutions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063,” aligns with the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD).
The forum will assess Africa’s progress on key SDGs, including SDG 3 (health and well-being), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 8 (inclusive economic growth and decent work), SDG 14 (ocean conservation), and SDG 17 (global partnerships). It will also explore ways to hasten the UN Digital Global Compact—adopted at the Summit of the Future—and the Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA) 2034.
The Seventh ARSTIF is set to deliver impactful outputs feeding into the ARFSD and the New York multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology, and innovation. These include a detailed report on Africa’s innovation landscape, outcome documents from special sessions for member states and stakeholders, and a guide spotlighting initiatives like the Origin Research and Innovation Labs and the Alliance of Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa.
Expected outcomes include deeper university-global partnerships, stronger public-private collaboration for research funding, and the showcasing of transformative technologies poised to drive sustainability.
The event will draw a wide array of participants: African Union member states, the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), regional economic communities, civil society, private sector leaders, academia, and international development partners.
With Africa’s transformation tied to science, technology, and innovation, ARSTIF 2025 promises to be a catalyst for sustainable growth. As the continent pursues its Agenda 2063 and 2030 SDG targets, this forum will shape policies, spark investments, and propel technological leaps. With April 2025 on the horizon, Kampala is poised to host Africa’s brightest minds charting a dynamic future.