Cooperation to strengthen research and development in Africa
Doctoral students in the field of AI from African universities on a research visit to Uppsala University in autumn 2025. From left: Beimnet Zenebe (Addis Abeba University, Ethiopia), Lily Chepkirui Siele (University of Nairobi, Kenya), Jane Murerwa (University of Rwanda, Rwanda), Patience Atukunda (Makerere University, Uganda), Shaylyn Govender (Rhodes University, South Africa), Victory Ayuma Sitati (Kenya), Axsumawit Tassew (Ethiopia), Seun Osuntoki (University of Lagos, Nigeria). Photo: Kajsa Hallberg Adu, Uppsala University.
Uppsala University is involved in several international research clusters with African partner universities. One of these focuses on how artificial intelligence (AI) can contribute to sustainable development.
David Sumpter, professor at the Department of Information Technology, is leading a research cluster with a professor at Stellenbosch University in South Africa on applications of AI to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt, Uppsala University.
Just under three years ago, a new initiative involving research clusters was launched in a collaboration between universities in Africa and Europe.
The initiative is supported by two university networks: African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and The Guild of Research Intensive Universities (The Guild). There are currently just on twenty research clusters within the Clusters of Research Excellence initiative.
The future is in Africa
Researchers at Uppsala University, together with their African partners, lead four of these research clusters and are involved in three more. Uppsala University is supporting the initiative with funding as well as administrative support. For example, the clusters receive a certain amount of funding for travel and exchanges with the African partner universities. The four clusters at Uppsala University also share the equivalent of one full-time position as coordinator.
“It’s inspiring collaborating with universities in Africa. I’ve always had PhD students from African countries,” says David Sumpter, professor at the Department of Information Technology. “I think the future lies in Africa with its many young people, great diversity, and a range of individuals and talents.”
Together with Francesco Petruccione at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, David Sumpter is leading a research cluster on applications of AI. The core idea of the cluster is that applications of AI will play an important role in achieving many of the Sustainable Development Goals by solving problems in many different areas. The aim of the cluster is to strengthen the capacity of research-intensive universities in Africa to use AI methodologies and to strengthen these universities’ research in AI and computer science.
“Uppsala University is heavily engaged on the African continent in line with the EU’s major initiatives in collaborations within Global Gateway and the AU-EU Innovation Agenda,” says Kajsa Hallberg Adu, research coordinator for the research cluster.
Help with capacity building
“We are not in the business of solving problems in Africa. We are helping them to help themselves by building their education capacity and supporting them in project discussions and the design of research projects,” says David Sumpter.
Article written by Anders Berndt - Continue reading >> Cooperation to strengthen research and development in Africa