IST-Africa 2013 Closing Plenary
The Closing Plenary Session of IST-Africa 2013 focused on providing an overview of current Initiatives supporting ICT and Science Technology and Innovation.
The session was very well attended, chaired by Dr. Eric Mwangi, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Kenya and incorporated presentations from Mr Stéphane Hogan, Science Counsellor at the EU Delegation to the African Union (Horizon 2020), Mr Moses Bayingana, ICT Expert, Information Society Division, African Union Commission (African Internet Exchange System - AXIS), Vincent Kaabunga, IEEE Kenya Section, Kenya (IEEE's Information Society Activities in Africa), Grace Wandera, Strategy, Vision 2030 Secretariat, Kenya and Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, National Council for Science and Technology, Kenya (Future of Innovation and ICT Research in Kenya).
Stéphane Hogan, EU Delegation to the AUC, provided a detailed and informative presentation of Horizon 2020 and the new approach proposed for International Cooperation.
Moses Bayingana, African Union Commission provided an update in relation to the African Internet Exchange System project which commenced as an 8Th Africa-EU Strategic Partnership project in 2012. To date best practice workshops have been held in 11 African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Senegal and Swaziland), which resulted in consensus building and committees being established. Technical training has been hled in six countries to date (Burkina Faso, Burundi, Gambia, Guinea, Namibia and Togo). The next step is to deliver the mecessary equipment to set up the Internet exchange points. This is a strategically important project in terms of assisting in reducing the costs associated with transiting Internet traffic and improving the quality of local services.
Vincent Kaabunga, IEEE Kenya Section provided an overview of IEEE activities in Kenya and Africa in terms of supporting collaboration and continuing professional education.
Grace Wandera, Director of Strategy, Vision 2030 Secretariat provided an overview of the critical role of ICT in implementing Vision 2030 in Kenya and current projects under development. Grace highlighted that Kenya is making progress in terms of increasing support for Science, Technology and Innovation. In conclusion Grace outlined that technology does not occur through happenstance, it is achieved through years of deliberate, sustainable investment, cutting edge research and development and therefore, for Kenya, following approaches such as the triple helix approach where government, universities and industry are working together is an imperative.
Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, CEO, National Council for Science and Technology, Kenya provided an overview of the Future of Innovation and ICT Research in Kenya. Prof. Shaukat outlined that Kenya has made good progress in supporting ICT, Research and Innovation. The mobile cellular market has been liberalised and SafariCom partnered with Vodafone. Local area networks have also been enabled in ministries, which support efficiencies. The Government has recently enacted the Science, Technology, Innovation Act 2013, among other things has also upgraded the National Council for Science and Technology to a Commission that advises, promotes and coordinates and, of course, regulates matters of science and technology in the country. The National Research Fund and Kenyan Innovation Agency are now being set up. Prof. Shaukat outlined that going forward it is necessary to create an innovation ecosystem, that breaks down the silo mentality, based on a quadruple helix (government, research/academic, industry, societal). It is critical that research going forward is focused on addressing societal challenges.
The presentations provided a very good insight into current activities and future opportunities. The IST-Africa 2013 Conference Report provides a full report on the discussions during the Closing Plenary.
