2020 | IST-Africa Conference
2020 May 18 – 22
(originally scheduled Kampala, Uganda)
Location: Virtual
The IST-Africa Entrepreneurship Workshop will include speeches relating to the theme Collaborative Open Innovation and ICT-enabled Entrepreneurship (including Social Entrepreneurship.)
Entrepreneurial Sessions – 2020 May 20:
IEEE Entrepreneurship at a Glance
Janati Nakimera, who is the Social Impact Liaison on the 2020 IEEE Entrepreneurship Steering Committee, will present the first session IEEE Entrepreneurship at a Glance. She will discuss how IEEE Entrepreneurship offers opportunities to innovators to expand and grow their businesses. Janati assists in amplifying the role IEEE Entrepreneurship plays in unlocking, accelerating, and supporting natural innovative ideas that are in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) goals.
Online Digital Payments that Every Startup Should Consider
Kenneth M. Bintu will present Online Digital Payments that Every Startup Should Consider. Kenneth is an active IEEE volunteer and a member of the IEEE Entrepreneurship Community. He supports IEEE activities through several successful projects including serving as the chair of the IEEE students’ branch at Cavendish University, Kampala, Uganda. He will share his knowledge regarding the need for startups to integrate digital online technology solutions to facilitate the growth of their businesses.
Hosted by the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Supported by the European Commission and African Union Commission, IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology, IEEE Africa Council and IEEE Uganda Section, IST-Africa Week 2020 is the fifteenth in an annual series of Ministerial Level Technology Research Conferences.
The goals of the IST-Africa Conference Series are to 
– Support Development of the Information Society and Knowledge Economy in Africa
– Promote International Research Innovation, and Policy Cooperation and Coordination
– Showcase African Research and Innovation Capacity
– Stimulate exploitation of research results by the public and private sectors
Other co-located multi-lateral and bi-lateral meetings will place during the IST-Africa 2020 week. Read More.
IST-Africa Week 2020 will provide an international forum to showcase existing Research, Innovation, ICT4D activities, and capacity in Kenya, the rest of Africa, and Europe. The Conference Programme combines strategic keynote presentations, High-Level Roundtable, technical and policy papers, case studies, and workshops. It also provides an opportunity to identify potential partners for future research cooperation under Horizon 2020. Read More.
Thematic Overview
The IST-Africa 2020 Programme will incorporate Opening and Closing Plenary Sessions and a Scientific Programme with Parallel Sessions featuring presenters from the public, private, education, and research organizations in Europe and Africa.
Focused on Information Society and ICT Policy Dialogues, International Development and Research Cooperation and Community Building, each conference brings together senior representatives of leading public, private, education, and research organizations from 50 countries to discuss policy, share insight and identify collaboration opportunities.
The goals of the IST-Africa Conference Series are to
– Support Development of the Information Society and Knowledge Economy in Africa
– Promote International Research Innovation, and Policy Cooperation and Coordination
– Showcase African Research and Innovation Capacity
– Stimulate exploitation of research results by the public and private sectors
The Scientific Programme for IST-Africa 2020 is based on a double-blind peer review of papers submitted to an open Call for Papers which closes on 09 December 2019.
Full papers (8 pages in length) following the Paper Guidelines provided and uses the IST-Africa Template should be submitted online for review.
Workshop proposals can also be submitted online for consideration. A workshop session normally lasts for 90 mins with 4 – 5 presenters per session.
Final Program | IST-Africa 2020: 
The Final Programme incorporates 31 thematically focused sessions featuring over 95 presenters from public, private, education, and research organizations in 21 countries as a single-track event from 18 – 22 May. It incorporates a mix of plenary presentations and thematic paper sessions presenting results across the conference thematic areas.
Plenary Presentations include:
– Welcome Address – Hon. Elioda Tumwesigye, Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Uganda
– Dr. Phil Mjwara, Director-General, Department of Science and Innovation, South Africa
– Research and Innovation for Sustainable Development – Future Perspectives – Fadila Boughanemi, Deputy Head, International Cooperation II (Asia, Africa, Middle East & External Relations), DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
– The Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-30) – Moses Bayingana, Senior Policy Officer for ICT, African Union Commission
– AfricaConnect: a Past, Present and Future Success Story for African Research and Education, Tom Fryer, Head of International Relations, GÉANT
– SAIS 2 – Supporting Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Southern Africa – Ilari Lindy, SAIS2, Namibia
– IEEE Humanitarian Activities Committee – Supporting Sustainable Development – Paul Kostek, IEEE Humanitarian Activities Committee Events Chair
– Vincent Kaabunga, IEEE Africa Council Chair
Thematic areas addressed include:
– Monday 18 May – eInfrastructure, Global Development, Societal Implications of Technology
– Tuesday 19 May – eGovernment, Content Technologies, eHealth
– Wednesday 20 May – Entrepreneurship, Next Generation Computing, CyberSecurity
– Thursday 21 May – Technology-enhanced Learning
– Friday 22 May – eAgriculture, Environment Sustainability