Future Africa and CREST launch STI leaders forum to strengthen Africa’s voice in global science

A newly launched forum of African science, technology and innovation (STI) leaders is set to strengthen the continent’s collective voice in global scientific discourse. Formed through a strategic partnership between the Future Africa platform at the University of Pretoria and CREST (the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology) at Stellenbosch University, the forum connects leading science and policy institutions across the continent.

Officially launched on 20 March 2025 during CREST’s 30th-anniversary conference, ASTIL aims to establish a “meta network” — a collaborative structure that strengthens policy development, strategic exchange, and cross-continental engagement among African science leaders.

The initiative responds to growing concerns over fragmented engagement and limited representation of African science in international decision-making. ASTIL seeks to address these gaps by fostering coordinated action, improving transparency in research funding, and reinforcing the science-policy interface. A key focus will also be supporting the next generation of STI (Science, Technology, and Innovation) leaders.

The forum’s founding members include some of Africa’s most influential institutions: the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), the Association of African Universities (AAU), the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA), the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC), and the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI)—alongside Future Africa and CREST.

Together, these partners are laying the groundwork for a unified, Africa-led response to global scientific challenges—positioning the continent not just as a participant, but as a key shaper of the global research agenda.

Read the full original article on University World News.