📋 Tender Overview
The 4th Africa Science Technology and Innovation STI Forum closed with a commitment from stakeholders to bridge the gap between research in academia and the private sector businesses in need of the knowledge. The two-day event under the theme Strengthening STI Institutional Arrangements to Advance Full Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Africa was held on the sidelines of the 8th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development ARFSD in Kigali Rwanda. Drawing participants from public and private institutions across Africa.Climate Change Natural Resource Management and Technology Director at the ECA Mr. Jean-Paul Adam praised the outcomes of the forum that will contribute to policy implementation and improve funding mechanisms for RD innovation and entrepreneurship across Africa.We launched the Alliance of Entrepreneurial Universities and the Science and Technology Development and Transfer Network which are institutional arrangements that can improve the African STI landscape Mr. Adam said.Representatives of various African institutions also agreed on the need to establish regional networks and platforms for exchanging information on funding innovations and institutions to accelerate technology transfer and collaboration amongst key STI partners. The CEO of the Rwandan ICT Chamber Alex Ntale underscored the importance of public and private partnerships in STI. Since 2011 we have worked on structured RD as part of the Rwandan governments national digitalisation efforts. We also continue to work with local and international universities as well as others in the private sector to help start around 200 businesses he noted.Others in attendance were UNESCO East African Regional Director Hubert Gijzen Uganda Industrial Research Institute UIRI Executive Director Charles Kwesiga and Rwanda National Industrial Research and Development Agency NIRDA Director Christian Sekomo.This ARFRSD is an annual multi-stakeholder platform organized by the ECA and the host government this year Rwanda in collaboration with the African Union Commission the African Development Bank and other entities of the United Nations Systems. This years main event will be held from March 3 to March 5 2022 on the theme Building forward better A green inclusive and resilient Africa poised to achieve the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.
