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The fourth EuroAfrica-ICT Awareness Workshop was successfully held in Nairobi, Kenya during July 2007. The event was organised by the Meraka Institute of the CSIR (a EuroAfrica-ICT consortium partner).
It was hosted by the African Academy of Science (AAS) in Kenya (a consortium partner on the Science Technology-Europe Africa Project (ST-EAP)) and the African eDevelopment Resource Centre (AeDRC), Kenya.
The two-day event drew 87 delegates from Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Cameroon, South Africa, Botswana, Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia, representing universities, information and communications technology (ICT) companies, public institutions, non-governmental organisations, the European Commission and international and regional organisations dealing with ICT. The workshop was also attended by European participants from France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Denmark.
The aim of the workshop was to create awareness and share the objectives of the European Union's 7th Framework Programme (FP7), to introduce the objectives and activities of the EuroAfrica-ICT initiative and meet the most advanced local organisations in ICT.
The workshop included presentations of proposal ideas, expressions of interest as well as information on FP7. Presenters included Assistant Minister David Were of the Kenyan Ministry of Information and Communication, Ibrahim Laafia (a representative of the delegation of the European Commission in Kenya), Dr Eric Mwangi of the Directorate of Research and Development in the Kenyan Ministry of Science & Technology and Dr Respickius Casmir of the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
Their presentations highlighted the importance of research, development and partnerships based on science and technology on the African continent. The theme of collaboration and partnerships between Africa and Europe recurred in the presentations from East African speakers over the duration of the workshop. Roger Torrenti, CEO of Orionis and the EuroAfrica-ICT project advisor, highlighted the activities and services of the EuroAfrica-ICT project in Africa and Europe. He also stressed the importance for African institutions to make themselves known to Europe to build effective partnerships. Dr Geoff Meese of the CSIR and STEAP consortium partner presented a practical approach on the involvement of African partners in the EU's FP7 process. Participants voiced their pleasure at having their peers in the ICT sector in Africa and Europe at the workshop and took advantage of the networking opportunities it offered.
To conclude the workshop, Johan Eksteen of the Meraka Institute encouraged participants to embrace the opportunities of FP7 and to build long-term relationships with peer organisations in Africa and Europe.
View workshop proceedings and further information.
The Meraka Institute of the CSIR will be hosting the 5th Awareness Workshop in Botswana on 8-9 October 2007.
Contact Rebecca Naidoo, email rnaidoo@csir.co.za.
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