A study on the state-of-the-art of e-Infrastructures uptake in Africa

Fotios Spyridonis, Simon J E Taylor, Pamela Abbott, Roberto Barbera, Amos Nungu, Lars L Gustafsson, Bjorn Pehrson, Omo Oaiya and Tiwonge Banda
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Fotios Spyridonis: Brunel University London, Department of Computer Science, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, London, UB8 3PH, UK
Simon J E Taylor: Brunel University London, Department of Computer Science, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, London, UB8 3PH, UK
Pamela Abbott: Brunel University London, Department of Computer Science, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, London, UB8 3PH, UK
Roberto Barbera: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria, 6, 95125, Catania, Italy
Amos Nungu: Dar Es Salaam Institute of Technology, United Republic of Tanzania
Lars L Gustafsson: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
Bjorn Pehrson: School of Information and Communication Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Brinellvägen 8, Stockholm, Sweden
Omo Oaiya: West and Central African Research and Education Network, 11 Aviation Road Extension P O Box 5744, Accra, Ghana
Tiwonge Banda: UbuntuNet Alliance, Off Paul Kagame Road, HB House, Block C, P.O. Box 2550, Lilongwe, Malawi

Palgrave Communications, 2015, vol. 1, issue palcomms20147, 14007-

Abstract: e-Science is a pioneering method that uses integrated collections of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), or e-Infrastructures, to enable scientists across the world to collaboratively work on more and more ambitious projects. Have advances and access to ICTs enabled African e-Infrastructure development? This paper aims to understand the current state of e-Infrastructure uptake in Africa and present some of these initiatives across the African continent by exploring the current landscape emerging from a survey of early consumers. These initiatives are discussed in terms of key projects and user communities that they are addressing. In line with wider perceptions that e-Infrastructures will re-shape the ways research is performed, this study yielded 34 current or planned e-Infrastructure projects across 13 African countries addressing a range of research domains, and identified 7 user communities across these disciplines. Our findings suggest that the African research community is increasingly interested and involved in e-Infrastructure development activities in response to the issue of limited access to dedicated global research and education resources. The study can contribute to the ongoing discussion on how e-Infrastructures can positively promote the research, technological development and innovation potential of developing countries.

Date: 2015
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