Africa must invest in our own capabilities - Vice-Chancellor

Bringing together scholars, policymakers, and innovation leaders from over 20 countries, including 14 African nations, the Wits School of Governance and partners officially opened the 7th AfricaLics International Research Conference at the Wits School of Governance (WSG) DG Auditorium.

Delivering the official welcome address, Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi emphasised that scientific excellence alone will not solve Africa's developmental hurdles. Instead, the continent must bridge the gap between academic research, public policy, and industrial capability to build resilient innovation ecosystems.

The three-day international gathering serves as a critical platform for connecting research evidence with policy agendas.

The conference arrives during a landmark year for the University. In 2026, Wits was ranked the number one university in Africa by the Centre for World University Rankings (CWUR), placing it within the top one percent globally and recognised as the leading institution in sub-Saharan Africa for innovation performance in the Global Innovation Index.

"These achievements reflect the strength of our research, the talent of our scholars and students, and our commitment to turning knowledge into meaningful impact," said Vilakazi.

 "From artificial intelligence and advanced materials to health sciences, energy, and the social sciences, Wits is helping to advance the frontiers of knowledge... Africa's innovation challenge is not simply to produce more knowledge; it is to translate that knowledge into economic opportunity, stronger institutions, competitive industries, and better lives for our people."

Active leadership

The major theme of the conference is navigating rapid technological shifts, particularly artificial intelligence and emerging digital systems. Vilakazi urged African nations and research networks to take an active leadership role rather than remaining passive consumers of foreign technology.

"Africa must be an active participant in these transformations, not merely a market for technologies developed elsewhere," Vilakazi stressed. "This means investing in our own capabilities, strengthening African research networks, developing appropriate policy and regulatory environments, and building partnerships that enable us to create and retain greater value from innovation."

Highlighting the pivotal role of public governance, he noted that the Wits School of Governance continues to lead in aligning academic research with institutional development, policy formulation, and leadership capacity across the public sector.

The event brings together key national and international partners, including the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), Globelics, AUDA-NEPAD, and national innovation agencies. Over three days of policy dialogues, paper presentations, and strategic sessions, delegates are tasking themselves with formulating practical frameworks to strengthen African competence-building systems.

"Over the next three days, I hope you will challenge one another, share experiences, forge new partnerships, and, above all, advance practical ideas for strengthening Africa's innovation systems," said Vilakazi. "Wits is proud to be part of this endeavour."