Emerging technologies and transformations

Background

The Science Systems Futures project seeks to deepen our understanding of how emerging technologies are transforming the global practice and organization of science. It aims to strengthen the capacity of science, technology, and innovation actors in the Global South by fostering coalitions that can anticipate and adapt to these transformations over the next decade. A strategic retreat in May 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya, hosted by the African Academy of Sciences will bring high level experts from around the world, particularly form the Global South, to discuss the impact of emerging technologies on science systems.

As emerging technologies rapidly reshape scientific research and development worldwide, their benefits remain unevenly distributed. The Global South, with its distinct socio-economic contexts and R&D priorities, faces both significant opportunities and challenges in harnessing these technologies. 

The retreat will explore how transformative technologies can enable more efficient, inclusive, and impactful science systems in the Global South. 

The key topics of discussion in the retreat will be: 

1. Assessing Emerging Technologies 
   • Identify and evaluate the emerging technologies most likely to drive transformative change in science systems across the Global South. 
   • Conduct a structured assessment of these technologies—covering current applications, future potential, and their ability to strengthen scientific capacity. 
2. Understanding Private Sector Engagement
   • Examine the role of private sector R&D in science ecosystems, especially in contexts where public funding is limited. 
   • Analyze case studies (e.g., AlphaFold, compute infrastructure) to identify how private-sector innovation can complement public research efforts and fill existing gaps. 
   • Discuss incentives, investment frameworks, and collaborative strategies that encourage mutually beneficial partnerships between industry and scientific institutions. 
3. Mapping Gaps and Strategic Alignment
   • Identify critical gaps in current thinking about the future of science systems in the Global South.
   • Define how both IDRC and the Centre for Science Futures can strategically use their resources and networks to address these gaps. 

Activities and impact 

July 2024 – December 2025 

A curated list of emerging technologies most impactful for the scientific communities in the Global South. This resource will include: 

• A rationale for each technology’s selection based on adoption levels, future relevance, and regional needs. 

• Recommendations for policy, institutional strategies, and investment priorities. 

• Consideration of both new and well-established technologies that require scaling, adaptation, or reinvestment to fully realize their potential. 

These activities and impacts are intended to guide collaboration, inform decision-making, and support innovation ecosystems in the Global South as they navigate technological transformation. 

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Ottawa, Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of IDRC or its Board of Governors. 

Photo by julien Tromeur on Unsplash