Media Advisory
To: ALL Media
Thursday,03 September 2026
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is honoured to announce that South Africa will host the 8th RD20 (Research and Development 20 for Clean Energy Technologies) Conference in 2026, marking the first time the global conference will be held on the African continent.
Held under the theme “Accelerating clean energy innovation: From Africa to the world,” the conference will bring together leading researchers, policy thinkers, industry experts and innovation partners to advance global collaboration in clean energy technologies.
The RD20 Conference is a key international platform aimed at strengthening research and development for clean energy technologies and supporting efforts towards a carbon-neutral society. Hosting the event in South Africa provides an important opportunity to bring African perspectives, capabilities and priorities more strongly into global clean energy research and innovation discussions, while showcasing the continent’s contribution to an inclusive and sustainable energy transition.
The conference will feature high-level technical sessions, expert-led workshops and strategic discussions focused on shared research priorities, knowledge exchange and capacity building in clean energy technologies. Key technical focus areas will include:
Technical sessions:
Energy access
Synthetic fuels
Critical minerals for energy
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the conference, visit the CSIR exhibition and engage with CSIR and participating experts on clean energy technologies, Africa’s energy transition and the role of research and innovation in addressing energy security and sustainability
Members of the media are invited as follows:
Date and Time :19-23 October 2026 09:00am
Venue: CSIR international Convention Centre
Learn more and register: www.csir.co.za/events/conferences-and-events/the-8th-rd20-conference
Contact details for media enquiries and RSVP:
Phetolo Phatsibi, Media Relations Practitioner
Email: @email
Mobile: 081 396 8871
About the CSIR:
The CSIR, an entity of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, is one of the leading scientific and technology research, development and implementation organisations in Africa. Constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1945 as a science council, the CSIR undertakes directed and multidisciplinary research and technological innovation, as well as industrial and scientific development, to improve the quality of life of all South Africans. For more information, visit www.csir.co.za.
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