Science and Innovation Network Africa: Impact stories
Source: gov.uk (2025-03-13)

The Science and Innovation Network in Africa's impact stories in South Africa and Ghana.

Royal College of Engineering

The Royal College of Engineering (RAEng) ran a three-day workshop for partners in Cape Town with the High Commissioner, Antony Phillipson, opening an Industry Networking Session on 24 April. The industry networking session was part of the Academy’s Africa Engineers Awardee Workshop, held over the three days for senior academics and leaders of professional engineering bodies across a range of industries from:
- Eswatini
- Kenya
- Madagascar
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Sierra Leone
- South Africa
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zimbabwe
The Africa Engineers workshop aimed to build skills in project management, support peer-to-peer learning, networking and collaboration, and demonstrate and share best practice.

It provided an opportunity for engineers from industry and policy makers in Cape Town to meet with the awardees and spark discussions including on industry-academia collaboration, graduate employability across Africa, and engineering for development. It aimed to facilitate meaningful connections, discussions on key issues, and opportunities for future collaborations.

The High Commissioner gave opening remarks on the value of Science Partnerships and reiterated the long-standing Science relationship between the UK & South Africa. During the event, RAEng announced 20 new projects they will support for the next year across 10 countries in Africa, including 11 in South Africa, all under the UK’s International Science Partnership Fund. Projects range from:
- creating and implementing early and middle childhood STEM education programmes across countries in southern Africa
- introducing civil engineering and built environment graduates to innovation and digital methods in Uganda
- developing the next generation sustainable solar electric vehicle prototype in South Africa
Awardees from 4 Academy programmes were represented at the workshop, showcasing a small sample of the Academy’s activities supporting excellent African engineers. Programmes launched included:
- Transforming Systems through partnerships
- Africa catalyst
- Higher Education Partnerships in Sub-Saharan Africa, and
- Distinguished International Associates Programme
The Science and Innovation Network (SIN) facilitated meetings with Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Construction Industry Development Board, strengthening UK-SA links and raising the profile of the RAEng across the industry in South Africa.

Impact

Loughborough University Explores Opportunities for Partnerships in Ghana

Following the visit by the Ghanaian delegation to UK in February 2024 as part of the UK-Ghana Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) strategy, a delegation led by Prof. Nick Jennings, Vice Chancellor and President of Loughborough University visited Ghana from 27 – 29 May 2024 to explore and strengthen their partnerships in Ghana.

Supported by SIN Ghana, the delegation met with Ghana’s Minister for Sports and key players in sports to explore potential opportunities and support to Ghana as they plan to establish a sport university. They also held other engagements including roundtable discussion with potentials partners proposed by SIN Ghana. Discussions aimed at building collaborations that will help address issues in areas such as sport, education, health and well-being, climate change and inclusive communities.

Imperial College Vice President and Team in Ghana

Supported by SIN Ghana, the Vice President (International) and other key colleagues from Imperial London visited Ghana from 18 – 20 June 2024. As part of the visit, Imperial College London signed a five-year strategic partnership with the University of Ghana to build on their partnerships and kick-start advancements and progress in areas such as public health, entrepreneurship and sustainability.

SIN supported the delegation to call on the Ghana’s Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation where discussions were aimed at leveraging the Imperial College London hub that will be established later this year to support the Government of Ghana to build the ST&I ecosystem in Ghana as committed in the UK-Ghana ST&I strategy.