IST-Africa 2006 Focuses Innovation Spotlight on Africa and Cooperation with Europe
3 May 2006 - 5 May 2006
Austria
The IST-Africa 2006 Conference & Exhibition (http://www.IST-Africa.org/Conference2006(opens in new window)) which takes place in the CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa 03 – 05 May, will put innovation in Africa and cooperation with Europe under the research spotlight. Over 250 delegates from leading commercial, government and research organisations around the world will spend an intense three days reacting to and discussing over 120 presentations from 34 countries and 4 continents focused on applied Information and Communication Technology (ICT) research. Participation in IST-Africa provides a wonderful opportunity to gain a better appreciation of some of the cultural, technological and training issues impacting on the global eAdoption today.
IST-Africa 2006 promises to be one of the most important applied ICT research conferences to take place in Africa this year. Part of the IST-Africa Initiative (www.IST-Africa.org) which is supported by the European Commission under the Information Society Technologies (IST) Programme of Framework Programme 6 (FP6), IST-Africa 2006 is the first in an Annual Conference Series bringing together presenters and delegates from leading commercial, government & research organisations around the world, to bridge the Digital Divide by sharing knowledge, experience, lessons learnt and good practice.
IST-Africa is a collaborative initiative between IIMC International Information Management Corporation Limited (“IIMC”, Ireland), Commonwealth Network of Information Technology for Development (“COMNET-IT”, Malta), ICT Policy Implementation Technical Unit (“UTICT”, Mozambique) of the ICT Policy Commission (CPInfo), the Meraka Institute of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (“CSIR”, South Africa), and Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (“COSTECH”, Tanzania).
Focused on Applied IST research in the areas of eBusiness, eGovernment, eHealth, eLearning & ICT Skills and ICT for Agriculture, IST-Africa 2006 provides a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, develop links for future co-operation on International Research projects co-funded by the European Commission under its Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to be launched at the end of 2006, and identify opportunities to adapt existing research results to support economic growth in Africa.
Supported by the European Commission and sponsored by the Department of Science & Technology, South Africa, the City of Tshwane, Embassy of Finland in South Africa, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft, with Technical Co-Sponsorship by IEEE, this world-class event features an invigorating mix of business and government case studies, technical and policy papers and interactive workshops, as well as short tutorials highlighting opportunities to participate in European funded research under the IST Programme of FP7.
As well as selecting from over 30 thematically focused paper and workshop sessions over three days, and networking at a Gala Reception and a Gala Dinner, conference delegates will have the opportunity to share strategic ICT thinking with Keynote Speakers from among others Belgium, Germany, Mozambique and South Africa.
IST-Africa 2006 delegates will also be able to network in the Exhibition, which features demonstration stands from 9 countries and posters from a further 4 countries, representing both Africa and Europe.
Government Keynote Speakers include Mosibudi Mangena (Minister of Science and Technology, South Africa), Venâncio Massingue (Minister of Science and Technology, Mozambique), Peter Zangl (Deputy Director-General, DG Information Society and Media, European Commission), Heikki Tuunanen (Ambassador of Finland to South Africa) and Phil Mjwara (Director-General, Department of Science and Technology, South Africa).
Industry and Research Keynote Speakers include Ingo Juraske (Vice President Public Sector EMEA, Hewlett-Packard Europe), Lutz Heuser (Head of SAP Research, Germany), Cheikh Diarra (Chairman for Africa, Microsoft) and Derek Keats (The University of the Western Cape, South Africa).
The Final Programme also features parallel sessions focused on issues, applications and case studies related to eBusiness, eGovernment & eDemocracy, eHealth, eLearning and ICT Skills and ICT for Agriculture. Major horizontal issues addressed include challenges to eAdoption, collaborative innovation, interoperability and standardisation, international cooperation and opening up the European Research Area (ERA) to Africa.
Welcoming IST-Africa 2006 presenters and delegates to Pretoria, Mosibudi Mangena, Minister of Science and Technology, South Africa, noted that “South Africa views the IST-Africa Conference, strategically convened during the preparatory phase of the FP7, as a valuable platform to promote improved ICT research cooperation between African and European partners. Such cooperation will provide invaluable support for the implementation of the ICT activities of the African Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action, as adopted by African Ministers responsible for Science and Technology in September 2005. South Africa, through its Meraka Institute, is therefore proud to be the host country for IST-Africa 2006. It is an event, which will also strengthen our own close and strategic science and technology partnership with the European Union. It is my hope that the Conference deliberations will serve to further our understanding of, and commitment to, harnessing the immense potential of knowledge and innovation, especially in the field of ICT, to promote global sustainable development and fight poverty in Africa.”
Encouraging participation at IST-Africa 2006, Peter Zangl, Deputy Director-General, DG Information Society and Media, European Commission commented that "The IST-Africa 2006 Conference is a key opportunity for African and European ICT research communities to network, learn from each other and prepare strategic partnerships for participation in the forthcoming 7th European Research Framework Programme. This event has the full support of the European Commission in line with its contribution to fight against the digital and scientific divides in Africa."
Commenting on the importance of applied ICT as a social and economic driver, Heikki Tuunanen, Ambassador, Embassy of Finland in South Africa noted “Finland promotes development and a more equitable division of the benefits of globalisation. There is a strong commitment to the values and goals of the United Nations´s Millennium Declaration and hence support is given to foster access by developing countries to new Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in order to bridge the digital divide. Innovation and knowledge generation in the field of Information Society Technologies (IST) is a tool to achieve growth and development objectives globally. It is in this context that the Embassy of Finland in South Africa supports the IST-Africa Conference community in their work of creating European Union-African partnerships working towards the eradication of poverty.”
Reflecting on the nature of the IST-Africa Conference Community, Ingo Juraske, Vice President Public Sector EMEA, Hewlett-Packard said "Sub-Saharan Africa is one of HP's highest growth markets. While some might be overly concerned by the continent’s many challenges, HP sees the enormous potential and the innovation imperative that these very challenges create. Right now only 10% of the world's population have access to our products and services. In trying to address this issue, HP sees Africa is one of the main test beds for innovative, bottom-up needs-based ICT development. HP believes in supporting innovation across the globe. With the EU supporting IST projects in Africa, we feel it is important to be present and support these activities in Africa as we support them in Ireland or Finland. IST-Africa offers us the unique opportunity to meet a cross section of ICT Ministers and technology practitioners in one place."
Special Delegate rates are available for participants from Africa, other Developing Countries as well as EU New Member States and Candidate Countries. Details are provided on the Conference Portal at http://www.ist-africa.org/Conference2006/default.asp?page=registration(opens in new window)
An enticing Social Programme includes a Networking Reception sponsored by the IST-Africa Consortium on Wednesday 3rd May and a Gala Dinner hosted at the City Hall by the office of the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane on Thursday 4th May. The weekend programme provides the opportunity for delegates and partners to network in a relaxed setting while showcasing the best Gauteng Province has to offer.
Technical Co-sponsors for IST-Africa 2006 include IEEE Region 8 (Europe, Middle East, Africa), IEEE South Africa Section, IEEE South Africa Computer Chapter, IEEE UKRI Computer Chapter & IEEE Control and Communications (Ireland) Joint Chapter.
Supporting organisations include the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), the Computer Society of South Africa (CSSA) and UNDP.
IST-Africa 2006 promises to be one of the most important applied ICT research conferences to take place in Africa this year. Part of the IST-Africa Initiative (www.IST-Africa.org) which is supported by the European Commission under the Information Society Technologies (IST) Programme of Framework Programme 6 (FP6), IST-Africa 2006 is the first in an Annual Conference Series bringing together presenters and delegates from leading commercial, government & research organisations around the world, to bridge the Digital Divide by sharing knowledge, experience, lessons learnt and good practice.
IST-Africa is a collaborative initiative between IIMC International Information Management Corporation Limited (“IIMC”, Ireland), Commonwealth Network of Information Technology for Development (“COMNET-IT”, Malta), ICT Policy Implementation Technical Unit (“UTICT”, Mozambique) of the ICT Policy Commission (CPInfo), the Meraka Institute of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (“CSIR”, South Africa), and Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (“COSTECH”, Tanzania).
Focused on Applied IST research in the areas of eBusiness, eGovernment, eHealth, eLearning & ICT Skills and ICT for Agriculture, IST-Africa 2006 provides a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, develop links for future co-operation on International Research projects co-funded by the European Commission under its Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to be launched at the end of 2006, and identify opportunities to adapt existing research results to support economic growth in Africa.
Supported by the European Commission and sponsored by the Department of Science & Technology, South Africa, the City of Tshwane, Embassy of Finland in South Africa, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft, with Technical Co-Sponsorship by IEEE, this world-class event features an invigorating mix of business and government case studies, technical and policy papers and interactive workshops, as well as short tutorials highlighting opportunities to participate in European funded research under the IST Programme of FP7.
As well as selecting from over 30 thematically focused paper and workshop sessions over three days, and networking at a Gala Reception and a Gala Dinner, conference delegates will have the opportunity to share strategic ICT thinking with Keynote Speakers from among others Belgium, Germany, Mozambique and South Africa.
IST-Africa 2006 delegates will also be able to network in the Exhibition, which features demonstration stands from 9 countries and posters from a further 4 countries, representing both Africa and Europe.
Government Keynote Speakers include Mosibudi Mangena (Minister of Science and Technology, South Africa), Venâncio Massingue (Minister of Science and Technology, Mozambique), Peter Zangl (Deputy Director-General, DG Information Society and Media, European Commission), Heikki Tuunanen (Ambassador of Finland to South Africa) and Phil Mjwara (Director-General, Department of Science and Technology, South Africa).
Industry and Research Keynote Speakers include Ingo Juraske (Vice President Public Sector EMEA, Hewlett-Packard Europe), Lutz Heuser (Head of SAP Research, Germany), Cheikh Diarra (Chairman for Africa, Microsoft) and Derek Keats (The University of the Western Cape, South Africa).
The Final Programme also features parallel sessions focused on issues, applications and case studies related to eBusiness, eGovernment & eDemocracy, eHealth, eLearning and ICT Skills and ICT for Agriculture. Major horizontal issues addressed include challenges to eAdoption, collaborative innovation, interoperability and standardisation, international cooperation and opening up the European Research Area (ERA) to Africa.
Welcoming IST-Africa 2006 presenters and delegates to Pretoria, Mosibudi Mangena, Minister of Science and Technology, South Africa, noted that “South Africa views the IST-Africa Conference, strategically convened during the preparatory phase of the FP7, as a valuable platform to promote improved ICT research cooperation between African and European partners. Such cooperation will provide invaluable support for the implementation of the ICT activities of the African Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action, as adopted by African Ministers responsible for Science and Technology in September 2005. South Africa, through its Meraka Institute, is therefore proud to be the host country for IST-Africa 2006. It is an event, which will also strengthen our own close and strategic science and technology partnership with the European Union. It is my hope that the Conference deliberations will serve to further our understanding of, and commitment to, harnessing the immense potential of knowledge and innovation, especially in the field of ICT, to promote global sustainable development and fight poverty in Africa.”
Encouraging participation at IST-Africa 2006, Peter Zangl, Deputy Director-General, DG Information Society and Media, European Commission commented that "The IST-Africa 2006 Conference is a key opportunity for African and European ICT research communities to network, learn from each other and prepare strategic partnerships for participation in the forthcoming 7th European Research Framework Programme. This event has the full support of the European Commission in line with its contribution to fight against the digital and scientific divides in Africa."
Commenting on the importance of applied ICT as a social and economic driver, Heikki Tuunanen, Ambassador, Embassy of Finland in South Africa noted “Finland promotes development and a more equitable division of the benefits of globalisation. There is a strong commitment to the values and goals of the United Nations´s Millennium Declaration and hence support is given to foster access by developing countries to new Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in order to bridge the digital divide. Innovation and knowledge generation in the field of Information Society Technologies (IST) is a tool to achieve growth and development objectives globally. It is in this context that the Embassy of Finland in South Africa supports the IST-Africa Conference community in their work of creating European Union-African partnerships working towards the eradication of poverty.”
Reflecting on the nature of the IST-Africa Conference Community, Ingo Juraske, Vice President Public Sector EMEA, Hewlett-Packard said "Sub-Saharan Africa is one of HP's highest growth markets. While some might be overly concerned by the continent’s many challenges, HP sees the enormous potential and the innovation imperative that these very challenges create. Right now only 10% of the world's population have access to our products and services. In trying to address this issue, HP sees Africa is one of the main test beds for innovative, bottom-up needs-based ICT development. HP believes in supporting innovation across the globe. With the EU supporting IST projects in Africa, we feel it is important to be present and support these activities in Africa as we support them in Ireland or Finland. IST-Africa offers us the unique opportunity to meet a cross section of ICT Ministers and technology practitioners in one place."
Special Delegate rates are available for participants from Africa, other Developing Countries as well as EU New Member States and Candidate Countries. Details are provided on the Conference Portal at http://www.ist-africa.org/Conference2006/default.asp?page=registration(opens in new window)
An enticing Social Programme includes a Networking Reception sponsored by the IST-Africa Consortium on Wednesday 3rd May and a Gala Dinner hosted at the City Hall by the office of the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane on Thursday 4th May. The weekend programme provides the opportunity for delegates and partners to network in a relaxed setting while showcasing the best Gauteng Province has to offer.
Technical Co-sponsors for IST-Africa 2006 include IEEE Region 8 (Europe, Middle East, Africa), IEEE South Africa Section, IEEE South Africa Computer Chapter, IEEE UKRI Computer Chapter & IEEE Control and Communications (Ireland) Joint Chapter.
Supporting organisations include the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), the Computer Society of South Africa (CSSA) and UNDP.
Keywords
eBusiness, eHealth, eLearning and ICT Skills, ICT for Agriculture