IST-Africa 2013 Opening Plenary
Hosted by the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Education Science and Technology, and Supported by the European Commission (EC) and African Union Commission (AUC), IST-Africa 2013 (29 - 31 May) was the eighth in an annual series of Ministerial Level Technology Research Conferences. Attended by over 450 delegates from 44 countries (23 African Members States, 19 European Member States, Cambodia and United States), IST-Africa 2013 provided an opportunity to meet with representatives from the European Commission, African Union Commission, policy makers, practitioners, and researchers from leading commercial, government and research organisations around the world.
The Opening Plenary Session was in two parts, starting with a number of high-level presentations from the Host Government, European Commission and African Union Commission to provide an overall political context for the IST-Africa 2013 Conference.
The formal Opening Plenary was moderated by Prof. Harry Kaane, Higher Education Science and Technology Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Kenya. Prof. Kaane welcomed the participants and plenary speakers, expressing the pleasure of the Ministry that Kenya was selected to host the IST-Africa 2013 Conference. He outlined the importance for researchers to work in multidisciplinary teams to produce results that impact on social problems, supporting social transformation that can be taken up quickly.
Prof Kaane introduced the three plenary speakers - Mr Morten Møller, Programme Coordinator, DG CONNECT, European Commission; Mr Moctar Yedaly, Head of Information Society Division, African Union and Prof. Crispus Kiamba, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Kenya who also represented the Cabinet Secretary.
Mr Morten Møller, DG CONNECT, European Commission provided a very informative presentation on Horizon 2020, the new Research and Innovation programme being prepared by the European Commission to run from 2014 - 2020. It will combine aspects from a number of previous Programmes (Research and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme). Mr Møller outlined that the ultimate aim of Horizon 2020 is to maximise the contribution of EU-funded research to sustainable growth and jobs, and to tackle the grand challenges which are facing the world today such as climate change, clean energy, more efficient transport, food security, sustainable societies, secure societies, health and ageing populations. Horizon 2020 is divided up into three priorities: Industrial Leadership, Societal Challenges and Excellent Science. Mr Møller highlighted that Horizon 2020 is based on a new approach which goes towards building on scientific disciplines for market sectors and go to a much more integrated approach where the focus really is on providing tangible solutions to real problems.
Mr Moctar Yedaly, Head of Information Society Division of the African Union Commission. outlined that the IST-Africa Conference has always been one of the greatest opportunities for Africa and Europe, for EU and AU to meet and exchange on matters of implementation of the EU-Africa Partnership. The event is evidence that this Partnership is not only something happening in the political cloud, but something concrete, something inclusive, something about action. IST-Africa 2013 comes right after the conclusion of the 21st African Union Summit of the Heads of State and Governments and the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of OAUAU. Indeed, four days ago we have celebrated the birth of the Organisation of African Unity of the African Union under the team Africanism and Renaissance. Mr Yedaly highlighted that ICT, Science and Technology are playing a vital role in pursuing the African Union vision to build an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, an Africa managed by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international area.
Prof Crispus Kiamba, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Kenya acknowledged the honour bestowed on Kenya to host this conference and exhibition which was organised by the IST Africa Initiative with support from the European Commission. Prof. Kiamba highlighted that Science, Technology and Innovation including ICT are essential for economic and social development and are particularly central to competitiveness in a rapidly globalising, increasingly knowledge-based world. In the case of Kenya, Science, Technology and Innovation and ICT, have been identified as key foundations, on which the economic, social and political pillars of our development are anchored. This long-term development envisioning is what we have come to call the Kenya Vision 2030, and indeed in many African countries, similar long term development and envisioning are also taking place. Prof. Kiamba highlighted that the IST Africa Initiative activities are heavily oriented towards priority number 1 of the 8th Partnership on Science, Information Society and Space supporting the development of an inclusive Information Society in Africa. Prof Kiamba outlined that it is his sincere hope that the outcome of this conference, and the IST-Africa Living Lab Thematic Working Group Meeting will accelerate the focused implementation of the AU-EU 8th Strategic Partnership.
A more detailed overview of the Opening Plenary is available in the IST-Africa 2013 Conference Report
