Enhancing Scientific Collaboration to Advance STI in Africa’s International Centers of Excellence

The year 2025 marks the mid-point of the “Decade of Action” for the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. Various countries around the world are working to formulate policies to facilitate the process of sustainability in economic, social and environmental aspects. Technological developments, in particular the rapid digital transformation since past decade hold tremendous potential in enabling innovative solutions to challenges of sustainable development. African nations face unique and varied sustainability challenges.
 

Scientific collaboration plays a pivotal role in accelerating the uptake of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI). As key hubs for research and capacity development, DBAR ICoEs in Africa are uniquely positioned to bridge gaps between knowledge creation and practical application, yet they often face systemic challenges including fragmented networks, limited funding, and infrastructure constraints. This review examines how strategic partnerships among African ICoEs, governments, industry, and global research institutions can enhance STI adoption to address local and continental priorities, from climate resilience to public health.
 

To improve STI cooperation, several key actions are recommended. First, the development of shared digital platforms is essential to enable open science and facilitate seamless data exchange across borders. These platforms can foster greater collaboration, transparency, and inclusiveness in research efforts. Second, implementing joint funding mechanisms will help scale high-impact research by pooling resources and aligning priorities among international partners. Third, the establishment of policy frameworks that incentivize cross-border innovation is critical for sustaining long-term STI collaboration. Additionally, DBAR ICoEs should be empowered to leverage emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and remote sensing, through sustained capacity development programs. This will help overcome traditional barriers, accelerate progress in priority areas, enhance the role of digital technologies in policy development, and support the emergence of a commercial market for data and AI in Africa. 

Key words: Digital Sciences; Remote sensing. STI; Science Collaboration; ICoE;