The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) has officially launched the ACTS AI Institute (ACAII), a Pan‑African initiative aimed at advancing responsible and locally relevant artificial intelligence across the continent.

Unveiled on July 17, 2025, ACAII will serve as a hub for research, policy development, capacity-building, and innovation in AI tailored to Africa’s social, economic, and cultural contexts.

Operating under five strategic pillars—responsible AI solutions, governance, jobs, capacity-building, and data science—the institute will focus on sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and climate resilience to deliver impact-driven AI solutions.

In his keynote address, Dr. Laurent Bochereau, Minister-Counsellor for Science and Innovation at the EU Delegation to the African Union, reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to strengthening research collaboration through initiatives like Horizon Europe, which includes a dedicated Africa Strategy.

Dr. Winston Ojenge, Head of ACAII, emphasized the goal of designing an “Africanized” responsible AI toolbox—governance, ethics, and standards tailored to the continent’s unique realities.

Advancing equitable innovation, the institute builds on ACTS’s AI4D (AI for Development) program, which has supported African researchers through scholarships funded by IDRC, FCDO, and SIDA.

ACAII aims to reclaim Africa’s narrative in the AI space by promoting locally led initiatives that empower communities, boost human capital, and reinforce policy frameworks for sustainable development