Meeting report of the expert group meeting on towards an African nanotechnology future: capacity, policies and regulation to meet SDGS

Abstract

Emerging new technologies are currently transforming every aspect of life and presenting new opportunities and challenges for Africa’s development. Among them is nanotechnology that has grown from a research field to an industrial sector with a global market estimated at $2-3 trillion. Unlike other emerging technologies such as biotechnology and ICT, nanotechnology has received less attention in Africa. Nanotechnology has been undergoing a ‘quiet revolution’ on the continent although Africa’s contribution is relatively low and is likely to remain so if urgent policy actions are not taken by governments and the private sector. The overall objective of the Expert Group Meeting was to identify the current trends and the opportunities that nanotechnology realistically offers African countries and to explore the scope for regional and national collaboration and cooperation to bridge the nanotechnology skills, research and infrastructure gaps to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, the Expert Group Meeting aim to assess the current state of nanotechnology in Africa as well as provide an overview of nanotechnology development globally; Explore opportunities to enable innovation using nanotechnology to develop safe and effective products that could make significant impacts in achieving the 2030 Agenda and national aspirations; Explore strategies and other arrangements that African countries can use to harness global and regional knowledge in nanotechnology to drive innovation in Africa.