Hosted by the Government of South Africa through the Department of Science and Innovation and supported by the European Commission (EC) and African Union Commission (AUC), IST-Africa 2021 (10 - 14 May) is the sixteenth in an annual series of Ministerial Level Technology Research and Innovation Conferences.

Due to the unprecedented circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic and based on the success of IST-Africa 2020, to protect the health and well being of IST-Africa Community Members, IST-Africa 2021 will take place as a virtual event from 10 - 14 May.

To date, IST-Africa 2021 has also confirmed Support by the IEEE Africa Council and IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology, and Technical Co-Sponsorship by IEEE South Africa Section, IEEE Tunisia Section, IEEE Uganda Section, IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society, IEEE Education Society and IEEE UK and Ireland SSIT Chapter.

IST-Africa Week 2021 will provide a world-class international forum to showcase existing and emerging technology-enabled Research, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and ICT4D activities and capacity in Africa, Europe, and the rest of the world. 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 and innovation cooperation under Horizon Europe, and other international funding programs.

The goals of the IST-Africa Conference Series are to

• Support Development of the Information Society and Knowledge Economy, and Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) in Africa
• Promote International Research Innovation, and Policy Cooperation and Coordination
• Showcase African Research and Innovation Capacity
• Stimulate exploitation of research and innovation results by the public, private and societal sectors