Designing a Pan-African Research Infrastructure for Digital Sciences: DIGITAfrica Vision, Blueprint Methodology, and Roadmap
Abstract Digital research infrastructures underpin data-intensive science, reproducible experimentation, and collaborative innovation. In Africa, their development remains hindered by fragmentation, limited computing and connectivity resources, shortages of technical expertise, and sustainability constraints. This paper presents the vision, methodology, and deployment roadmap of DIGITAfrica, a Horizon Europe initiative preparing a pan-African Research Infrastructure in digital sciences. Building on a multi-country demand analysis and lessons from the ESFRI research infrastructures SLICES and SoBigData, we introduce a blueprint-based methodology for specifying interoperable, incrementally deployable, and sustainable digital infrastructures. We describe two representative blueprints—edge-interoperable AI/ML and heterogeneous networking—and the shared service architecture that operationalise them. Finally, we outline the stakeholder engagement process intended to support adoption, capacity building, and long-term governance. Overall, DIGITAfrica proposes a federated framework to strengthen digital science capabilities in Africa through shared infrastructure, reusable experimental environments, and coordinated community development.
Authors
- André Cardozo Sarli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6617-3965)
- Damien Saucez
- Thomas Magedanz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5413-1388)
- Narjès Bellamine Ben Saoud (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8071-0189)
- Raffaele Bruno (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7472-7833)
- Joyce Mwangama
- Adam Belloum
- Serge Fdida
- Vitalis Ozianyi
- Michela Natilli
- Marta Barroso
- Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba Gueye
- Nikos Makris
- Jean Louis Fendji
Institutions
- Istituto di Scienza e Tecnologie dell'Informazione "Alessandro Faedo" (IT)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique (FR)
- University of Thessaly (GR)
- University of Cape Town (ZA)
- Strathmore University (KE)
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center (ES)
- Mandat International (CH)
- Sorbonne Université (FR)
- Institute of Informatics and Telematics (IT)
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (GR)
- Technische Universität Berlin (DE)
- Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (FR)
- University of Ngaoundéré (CM)
- Manouba University (TN)
- University of Amsterdam (NL)
- Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (ES)
- Cheikh Anta Diop University (SN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- EPJ Research Infrastructures
- Published
- 2026-09-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s41781-026-00184-5
- Primary Topic
- Research Data Management Practices
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- European Commission
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
- HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme
- Research Executive Agency
- HORIZON EUROPE European Innovation Ecosystems