On 24 April 2025, representatives from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) participated in the inaugural workshop on Pan-African digital research infrastructure, held in Cape Town. Experts and stakeholders from across Africa and Europe convened to explore the vision for a Pan-African research infrastructure in digital sciences. Organised under the Horizon Europe-funded DIGITAfrica project, the workshop featured contributions from key external experts.

The CSIR NextGen Enterprises and Institutions cluster made a commanding presence at the workshop featuring Cloud and Network Architectures and Services research group leader Dr Hlabi Kobo, who served as a panellist in the third session, entitled “Identifying Common Research Priorities;” Principal researcher Prof. Albert Lysko, who moderated the fifth session entitled “Economic Dimensions and Sustainability,’ along with the South African National Research Network (SANReN) Director Sabelo Dlamini, who contributed as a panellist in the same session and Lusani Mamushiane, a researcher and specialist participant; all showcasing exemplary representation from the cluster.

Dr Kobo highlighted the event's significance, stating, “The workshop provided a valuable platform to engage with continental partners on aligning research priorities and fostering collaboration in digital sciences. It was particularly encouraging to see strong support from European funding instruments, which can play a key role in enabling joint research efforts and capacity building between Africa and Europe.”

Panellists of the fifth session explored how to maximise socioeconomic benefits, such as skills development and innovation, while ensuring equitable access across Africa. The discussion also highlighted practical models for securing sustainable funding through government support, private-sector co-investment and international collaboration.

Reflecting on the session, Prof. Lysko commented, “This was an excellent opportunity to position the CSIR as an active contributor to shaping the future of digital research infrastructure in Africa. The dialogue we had resonates well with our mission of advancing 5G/6G technologies and supporting digital transformation aligned with national and continental priorities.”

Dlamini and a fellow panellist in the fifth session added, “Building and sustaining research infrastructure for Africa requires a diverse funding strategy that combines government investment, international partnerships, and private-sector co-investment. It is equally important to ensure that robust digital infrastructure, such as national research and education networks, is in place to effectively support and enable these research ecosystems across the continent.”

The participation of the CSIR representatives from different research focus areas, specifically advanced wireless technologies, network infrastructure and research priorities, highlights the organisation’s broad engagement in supporting digital transformation and innovation. This includes work on 5G/6G technologies, telecom testing, localisation and the development of robust research networking infrastructure.

CSIR’s participation in the workshop aligns with its commitment to research excellence, regional cooperation and innovation, which fosters inclusive and sustainable development. CSIR researchers are encouraged to engage in similar international initiatives, strengthening our collective contribution to global innovation and Africa’s digital transformation.