Due to the unprecedented circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic, IST-Africa 2022 took place as a virtual event from 16 – 20 May 2022. An activity of IST-Africa, IST-Africa 2022 is the seventeenth in an Annual Conference Series bringing together senior representatives from leading public, private, education research organisations, to discuss ICT policy, showcase research results and share knowledge.

Hosted by the Government of South Africa through the Department of Science and Innovation, Supported by the European Commission and African Union Commission, IST-Africa 2022 focuses on the the Role of ICT, Research and Innovation in Africa’s Development and specifically on Applied ICT research in the areas of eHealth, eGovernment, eInfrastructures, Technology Enhanced Learning and ICT Skills, Cyber Security, Next Generation Computing, eAgriculture, Societal Implications of Technology, International Cooperation and ICT4D.

The goals of the IST-Africa Conference Series are Community Building to facilitate EU-African research cooperation and successful exploitation of Research and Innovation results, to stimulate take-up of RTD results, to promote knowledge sharing between commercial, government and research organisations, to exchange experiences about the current state of eAdoption at a sectoral, national or regional level, to support International Cooperation and open up the European Research Area (ERA) to Africa.

The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution South Africa was represented by Obakeng Hlatshwayo who presented on the Centre’s achievements to date and the way forward.