Programme

The full programme will be launched once finalised and will be structured under the following tracks:

Financing science, technology and innovation (STI)
Science and society nexus (agriculture, space science, health, climate change, just energy transition, indigenous knowledge systems)
Bridging the gap between innovation and entrepreneurship
Advancing regional development through science, technology and innovation
Navigating emerging and disruptive technologies
Science journalism and science communication
Science diplomacy

Print version

Download a print-friendly version of the programme

Please note: This is a draft programme and will be updated regularly as sessions, speakers and timings are confirmed.

TUESDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2026

REGISTRATION

1 December 2026

14:00 Registration and Refreshments

Venue
CSIR ICC

Registration is open from 14:00.

MINISTERIAL OPENING PLENARY

1 December 2026

16:00 – 18:30 Ministerial Opening Plenary

Venue
CSIR ICC (Diamond)

WELCOME RECEPTION

1 December 2026

18:30 – 20:00 Exhibition Opening and Welcome Reception

Venue
CSIR ICC

WEDNESDAY, 2 DECEMBER 2026

REGISTRATION

2 December 2026

07:00 Registration opens

Venue
CSIR ICC

Registration is open from 07:00.

REFRESHMENT AND LUNCH TIMES

2 December 2026

All day – Refreshments available throughout the day

Venue
CSIR ICC (Exhibition Hall, Amber Room and Deck)

Refreshments will be available all day.

11:00 – 14:00 Light Networking Lunch

Venue
CSIR ICC (Exhibition Hall, Amber Room and Deck)

Lunch available from 11:00 – 14:00.

THEME 1

FINANCING FOR STI

2 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 Financing the Semiconductor Opportunity: Mobilising Global Partnerships and Blended Finance for Africa’s Industrial Advancement

Host
Nina Jojer Africa

09:40 – 11:10 From Research to Impact: Carbon Credits as a Finance Tool and an Enabler for Scaling Agroecology and Climate Resilience in Southern Africa

Host
World Wildlife Fund

11:20 – 12:50 Beyond Publications: Incentivising Research for Social, Economic and Environmental Impact in Southern Africa

Host
British High Commission

13:00 – 14:30 Who Gets Left Out? Global North Funding Reductions and Disability-Inclusive Research Access in the Global South

Host
South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS)

16:20 – 17:50 From Heritage to Innovation: The Arts as Indigenous Knowledge, Research and Economic Catalyst

Host
Goethe Institute

18:00 – 19:30 From Ground Truth to Global Frameworks: Bridging Meta-Science and Citizen Science on Climate Change through Indigenous Knowledge Sub-theme: Science and society nexus — focus on climate change and indigenous knowledge systems Climate

Hosts
University of KwaZulu-Natal
University of the Witwatersrand
University of Pretoria

THEME 2

SCIENCE AND SOCIETY NEXUS (AGRICULTURE, SPACE SCIENCE, HEALTH, CLIMATE CHANGE, JUST ENERGY TRANSITION, INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS)

2 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 From Public Engagement to Public Participation: Citizen Science and the Future of Astronomy for Sustainable Development

Host
Department of Science, Technology and Innovation

09:40 – 11:10 Intelligent Mining and Beneficiation with Green Development in Deep Mines

Hosts
BGRIMM Technology Group

11:20 – 12:50 From Research to Impact: Igniting African-Led Science for a Sustainable Planet

Host
African Academy of Sciences (AAS)

13:00 – 14:30 Connecting Communities, Science and Policy: Strengthening Water Security through Citizen Science in Southern Africa

Host
Department of Water and Sanitation

14:40 – 16:10 From Technology to Practice: Space Information Technology Applications for Pressing Societal Challenges

Host
Aerospace Information Research Institute
Chinese Academy of Sciences (AIRCAS)

16:20 – 17:50 Translating Science Into Solutions: For Social Justice

Host
National Science and Technology Forum

18:00 – 19:30 Reclaiming Africa’s Food Heritage: A two-year journey from traditional foods to healthier, more resilient food systems

Host
DSTI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security (CoE-FS)

THEME 3

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

2 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 The Innovation Collaborative: Maximising Collisions, Minimising Friction from lab to market

Host
Southern African Research & Innovation Management Association (SARIMA)

09:40 – 11:10 Measuring what matters to bridge divides: countering Inequality and establishing indicators beyond GDP

Host
International Science Council

11:20 – 12:50 From Red Tape to Green Growth: Accelerating Bioproduct Innovation

Host
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)

13:00 – 14:30 China–South Africa Young Scientists Dialogue: From Science Diplomacy to Innovation and Impact

Host
The South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP)

14:40 – 16:10 From Research to Ventures: Shaping a Global Science Innovation Hub

Host
International Astronomical Union – Office of Astronomy for Development (IAU-OAD)

16:20 – 17:50 From Research to Revenue: Coordinating the Innovation Pipeline for Real Impact

Host
Network for Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship anchored on Research (NiCER)

18:00 – 19:30 National Policy Data Observatory Phase II

Host
Department of Science, Technology and Innovation

THEME 4

ADVANCING REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

2 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 Can Nuclear Science and Technology Accelerate SADC’s Industrialisation and Regional Development?

Hosts
Africa4Nuclear
Women in Nuclear Global Young Generation

09:40 – 11:10 From Critical Minerals to Strategic Technology Value Chains: Transforming African Research into Industrial Impact - Connecting MaterialsScience, Battery Technologies, Semiconductors, Innovation and Regional Value Chains for Africa’s Industrial Future

Hosts
Alliance for Industry 4.0
Smart Manufacturing for Africa

11:20 – 12:50 Building the Brazil–South Africa (SADC) Innovation Corridor: Science, Technology and Innovation for South–South Cooperation

Host
Brazil-Africa360

13:00 – 14:30 Powering the Nexus: Clean Energy, Smart Water, and Food Security for Rural SADC Communities - Opportunities for community-driven green and digital transformation

Host
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

14:40 – 16:10 Science journalism and science communication, cross cutting with capacity building and regional development

Host
Universities South Africa (USAf)

16:20 – 17:50 Advancing regional development of integrated biorefineries – Implementation for Socio-Economic Development and Impact

Host
CSIR – BIDF

18:00 – 19:30 Doing Policy Differently: Opportunities and Challenges of Engaged Policy Experimentation in South Africa

Hosts
University of Johannesburg
University College London

THEME 5

NAVIGATING EMERGING AND DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

2 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 Business Breakfast

Host
Department of Science, Technology and Innovation

09:40 – 11:10 High-Level Forum on “The Role of Higher Education with Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence

Hosts
African Development Bank (AfDB)
University of Pretoria, University of Tokyo

11:20 – 12:50 Preparing South Africa’s Future Workforce: Navigating Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies through STEM Education

Host
Sasol Foundation

13:00 – 14:30 Beyond the AI Hype: Why Local Context Matters More Than Scale / From Shared Knowledge to Shared Impact

Host
French–South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI)

14:40 – 16:10 Bridging the Gap: Technology, policy and disaster risk reduction in a warming world

Host
Mapungubwe Institute (MISTRA)

16:20 – 17:50 Academic Freedom, the Right to Science, and the Future of Knowledge in South Africa

Host
Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)

18:00 – 19:30 Translating Science into Societal Impact through UNESCO Biosphere Reserves

Host
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

THEME 6

SCIENCE JOURNALISM AND SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

2 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 Harvesting a Valley of Resilience: Can documentary filmmaking transform food systems?

Host
DSTI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security (CoE-FS)

09:40 – 11:10 What I’ve learnt after covering science policy in Africa for 20 years: A fireside chat with Linda Nordling

Host
Linda Nordling

11:20 – 12:50 Nobody Acted On Your Findings. Whose Problem Is That?

Host
Siakhula

13:00 – 14:30 Habitable Planet Workshop Newsroom Making Science Relevant: Educational approaches that help young South Africans engage with and communicate science

Host
Vula Youth Development NPC

14:40 – 16:10 Digital Media Collaboration and Development as an Enabling Service in Communicating Science

Host
South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement

16:20 – 17:50 Certified Living Labs for Africa: Building Trusted Innovation Ecosystems through Collaboration and International Partnerships

Host
European Network of Living Labs

18:00 – 19:30 Agroecology as a Holistic Approach for Strengthening the Science and Society Nexus through Policy and Practice, what are the enabling factors?

Host
Agricultural Research Council

THEME 7

SCIENCE DIPLOMACY

2 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 Science without borders? Navigating research security, trust and international collaboration in a changing geopolitical landscape

Host
International Network for Governmental Science Advice (INGSA)

09:40 – 11:10 Science Knows No Borders: Beyond Donor Funding and the Future of Global Research Partnerships

Hosts
Sweden University Forum (SASUF)
Uppsala University

11:20 – 12:50 Flora, Plant Sciences and the STISA

Host
African Physical Society United States

13:00 – 14:30 "Thy Neignbours Not Thy Insider": Assessing Local vs. Expert credibility in Science communication retention

Host
Sci-Bono Discover Centre South Africa

14:40 – 16:10 Part 1 of South Africa-Japan Hydrogen Workshop Series: Keynote session and policy

Host
The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ)

16:20 – 17:50 Part 2 of South Africa-Japan Hydrogen Workshop Series: Technology development and industry buildup

Host
The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ)

18:00 – 19:30 Science and society nexus - Unveiling Africa’s microbial richness: from humans to ecosystems

Host
Stellenbosch University

NETWORKING RECEPTION

2 December 2026

17:00 – 22:00 Networking Reception

Venue
CSIR ICC

Networking Refreshments for SFSA participants from 17:00 to 22:00.

THURSDAY, 3 DECEMBER 2026

REGISTRATION

3 December 2026

07:00 Registration opens

Venue
CSIR ICC

Registration is open from 07:00.

REFRESHMENT AND LUNCH TIMES

3 December 2026

All day – Refreshments available throughout the day

Venue
CSIR ICC (Exhibition Hall, Amber Room and Deck)

Refreshments will be available all day.

11:00 – 14:00 Light Networking Lunch

Venue
CSIR ICC (Exhibition Hall, Amber Room and Deck)

Lunch available from 11:00 – 14:00.

THEME 1

FINANCING FOR STI

3 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 Beyond Training: Building Africa’s Molecular Science Ecosystem Through Public-Private Partnership

Host
Medical Research Council

09:40 – 11:10 Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI): Strengthening Africa’s Research Agenda Through International Cooperation – A Sustainable Co-funding Model for Research and Innovation Collaboration over Competition: How SGCI and AU‑STISA 2034 Are Reshaping Science Funding in Africa

Hosts
National Research Foundation
KLB Writing Consutling

11:20 – 12:50 From Research to Investable Impact: Building Capital Markets for Science in Africa

Host
Africa Europe Science Collaboration Platform (AERAP)

13:00 – 14:30 Beyond Traditional Funding: New Financing Pathways for International University Partnerships

Host
Embassy of Finland

14:40 – 16:10 Look up. Look down. Look Forward: Investing in South Africa as a Global Destination for Exploring Deep Time and Deep Space

Host
Jivemedia

16:20 – 17:50 Disaster Risk Management: A Spotlight on Forest Fires in Africa & Canada – From Prediction & Monitoring to Civil Protection & Health Emergency Technologies

Host
SciCom – Making Sense of Science

18:00 – 19:30 From Dialogue to Impact: Strengthening Academia-Industry-Society Collaboration through the AIMday Method – A SASUF Case Study

Hosts
Sweden University Forum (SASUF)
Uppsala University

THEME 2

SCIENCE AND SOCIETY NEXUS (AGRICULTURE, SPACE SCIENCE, HEALTH, CLIMATE CHANGE, JUST ENERGY TRANSITION, INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS)

3 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 Youth Roundtable

Host
Department of Science, Technology and Innovation

09:40 – 11:10 Building a Pan-African Human Exposome Project

Host
SciCom – Making Sense of Science

11:20 – 12:50 From Community Data to Child Growth: Translating Community Health Worker Evidence into Action on Stunting Digital Health Innovation for Improved Quality of Care and Health Outcomes: Strengthening South Africa’s Health System through Science, Technology and Innovation Grow Great

Host
Sefako Makgatho University

13:00 – 14:30 Integrated Environmental Monitoring, MRV and Agroecological Approaches for Resilient Landscapes Building Climate-Resilient Communities through Vulnerability Mapping,Geoai and Knowledge Co-production

Hosts
CSIR
Human Sciences Research Council

14:40 – 16:10 From Technology to Practice: Space Information Technology Applications for Pressing Societal Challenges

Hosts
Aerospace Information Research Institute
Chinese Academy of Sciences (AIRCAS)

14:40 – 16:10 From Climate Science to Societal Impact: Accelerating Innovation for Resilient and Inclusive Communities

Host
University of Namibia (UNAM)

16:20 – 17:50 From Rural Innovation to National Impact: Translating Science, Technology and Innovation into Community-Led Solutions

Host
Green Youth Network

18:00 – 19:30 From Evidence to Commitment: Women and Girls in Science across Africa and the Global South

Hosts
Department of Science, Technology and Innovation
UNESCO

THEME 3

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

3 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 Initiatives in Upscaling Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) for Climate Resilience in Africa

Host
Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL)

09:40 – 11:10 Beyond Ideas: Driving Innovation and Entrepreneurship Among South African Youth – A Three-Part Thought Leadership Session

Hosts
Malerato Mphahlele – EmpowerHER
Allies Mentorship Movement

11:20 – 12:50 From Dialogue to Action: Accelerating Transformation in South Africa’s National System of Innovation

Host
National Advisory Council on Innovation

13:00 – 14:30 Science Meets Society: Why Great Research Doesn’t Always Change the World

Host
Osstrack Ltd

14:40 – 16:10 From mobile-apps catalyst to digital-skills powerhouse — building the tech-ventures and talent that drive South Africaʼs digital economy

Host
Mobile Applications Laboratory NPC (mLab)

16:20 – 17:50 From Lab to Market: Women Scientists Bridging Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Emerging Technologies for Inclusive Impact

Host
Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World – South Africa National Chapter (OWSD-SA NC)

18:00 – 19:30 Measurement Science for Societal Impact: Advancing Climate Resilience, Health, Food Security and a Just Energy Transition

Host
National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA)

THEME 4

ADVANCING REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

3 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 Investing in brain health and brain capital for advancing innovation and economic development in SADC

Host
University of Cape Town Neuroscience Institute

09:40 – 11:10 Africa-Canada STI Horizons

Hosts
University of South Africa
iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation of South Africa

11:20 – 12:50 Climate Smart Solutions and Indigenous Knowledge for Food Systems Transformation in Africa

Hosts
University of Pretoria
Future Africa Leadership Fellowship (FAR-Leaf)

13:00 – 14:30 From Research Excellence to Societal Impact: What Must Change in Africa’s Research and Innovation Ecosystem?

Host
African Academy of Sciences

14:40 – 16:10 Who gets to do science? New evidence on equitable participation and what it means for the African region

Host
Elsevier

16:20 – 17:50 From Dark Skies to Development: Astro-Tourism, Science Engagement and Regional Value Chains

Host
National Research Foundation

18:00 – 19:30 Science Education, Knowledge, Innovation and for Global North and South Collaboration and Solidarity

Hosts
Tshwane University of Technology

THEME 5

NAVIGATING EMERGING AND DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

3 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 Building capacity for effective governance of artificial intelligence in Africa

Hosts
Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM)
University of Pretoria

09:40 – 11:10 Rules Without Representation? AI Regulation, Global Standards and African Science Leadership

Host
Africa-Europe Science Collaboration Platform (AERAP)

11:20 – 12:50 Astronomical Data for South Africa’s Productive Participation in AI

Host
South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO)

13:00 – 14:30 AI and Open Science 2.0: Building a trusted, inclusive and AI-ready African research ecosystem

Host
Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)

14:40 – 16:10 Can AI Create Opportunities for South Africa’s Youth? Employment, Innovation and Sustainable Livelihoods

Host
University of Johannesburg

16:20 – 17:50 Artificial Intelligence for Resilient African Food Systems: Promise, practice and pitfalls

Hosts
DSTI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security (CoE-FS)
African-German Centre for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems and Applied Agricultural and Food Data Science (UKUDLA)

18:00 – 19:30 Measuring the Science–Society Nexus: Building Environmental Intelligence for a Changing World

Host
CSIR

THEME 6

SCIENCE JOURNALISM AND SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

3 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 Lost in Translation: The journey of science from journals to communities

Host
Maya Scientific Communications

09:40 – 11:10 From evidence to practice: building science communication competencies for research impact in South Africa

Hosts
NRF
SAASTA

11:20 – 12:50 Ask Me Anything - Got questions for science journalists?

Host
Freelance

13:00 – 14:30 If we build it, will they come? Envisioning a community of practice for science communicators in South Africa

Host
The University of the Witwatersrand

14:40 – 16:10 Beyond the Byline: Rethinking Journalism Awards in the Age of AI

Host
Nature

16:20 – 17:50 From Scientific Excellence to Societal Impact: Building Science Communication Competencies for Future Scientists

Host
University of Botswana

18:00 – 19:30 Negotiating Climate-Smart Sustainability Impact: Bridging Perspectives, Aligning Incentives and Co-creating Pathways Across the Research Ecosystem

Host
University of Free State

THEME 7

SCIENCE DIPLOMACY

3 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 Building Resilient Water Futures: Integrating Science Across Borders for Better Water Decisions

Hosts
Embassy of France
Embassy of Tunisia

09:40 – 11:10 Pujiang Innovation Forum: Open Innovation Partnership – Experiences from China, Africa, and the Global Community

Host
Shanghai Center for Pujiang Innovation Forum

11:20 – 12:50 Science Diplomacy in Practice: Building Trusted Scientific Partnerships Through Systems Science

Host
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)

13:00 – 14:30 Science Diplomacy in Action: Building Strategic Partnerships for Innovation, Research Security and Sustainable Development in Africa

Host
Mauritius Research and Innovation Council

14:40 – 16:10 Shaping a Future Africa–Europe Training Programme on Science Diplomacy

Host
VLIRUOS

16:20 – 17:50 Integrating science, policy, and collaboration: lessons from BRICS Working Groups

Host
NRF – South African Astronomical Observatory

18:00 – 19:30 Agroecology as a Holistic Approach for Strengthening the Science and Society Nexus through Policy and Practice, what are the enabling factors?

Host
Agricultural Research Council

NETWORKING RECEPTION

17:00 Networking Reception

Venue
CSIR ICC

Networking Refreshments for SFSA participants from 17:00 to 22:00.

FRIDAY, 4 DECEMBER 2026

REGISTRATION

4 December 2026

07:00 Registration opens

Venue
CSIR ICC

Registration is open from 07:30.

REFRESHMENT AND LUNCH TIMES

4 December 2026

All day – Refreshments available throughout the day

Venue
CSIR ICC (Exhibition Hall, Amber Room and Deck)

Refreshments will be available all day.

11:00 – 14:00 Light Networking Lunch

Venue
CSIR ICC (Exhibition Hall, Amber Room and Deck)

Lunch available from 11:00 – 14:00.

THEME 1

FINANCING FOR STI

4 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 Youth-led innovations for Sustainable Development in Africa

Hosts
AIMS
FSF

09:40 – 11:10 Launching the Declaration on Ethics for The Human Exposome

Host
SciCom – Making Sense of Science

11:20 – 12:50 Science Diplomacy through Meaningful Youth Engagement: Relational Wellbeing and Global South Partnerships

Host
Human Sciences Research Council

THEME 2

SCIENCE AND SOCIETY NEXUS (AGRICULTURE, SPACE SCIENCE, HEALTH, CLIMATE CHANGE, JUST ENERGY TRANSITION, INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS)

4 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 Developing a Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmap for Agriculture, Forestry and Aquaculture: Driving Competitiveness, Food Security and Inclusive Growth

Host
Department of Science, Technology and Innovation

09:40 – 11:10 Unlocking Food System Data for Sustainable and Resilient Futures: Advancing Data Sharing and Value Creation Across South Africa and Canada

Hosts
University of Pretoria
Sustainable Food Systems
Inclusive Innovation Hub (I2Hub)
University of Ottawa

11:20 – 12:50 Nuclear Medicine as a proponent of precision medicine roll out to SA patients Strategic Sovereignty in Healthcare: EU-South Africa Nuclear Medicine cooperation - driver of Value Chain integration, Advanced Skills, and Health Autonomy

Hosts
NuMeRI NPC
Necsa
European Commission

THEME 3

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

4 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 Advancing Science Diplomacy and Partnerships for a Sustainable Africa

Host
University of Pretoria

09:40 – 11:10 Building the Future Together: An Interactive Science Diplomacy Experience

Host
Embassy of Switzerland

11:20 – 12:50 South Africa – European Union 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation

Host
Department of Science, Technology and Innovation

THEME 4

ADVANCING REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

4 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 Beyond Collaboration: Building Equitable, Strategic and Sustainable UK–Southern Africa Research Partnerships

Host
British High Commission

09:40 – 11:10 30 Years of Germany–South Africa Science & Technology Cooperation: Celebrating Impact, Envisioning the Future

Host
BMFTR

11:20 – 12:50 Democracy and the Conditions of Flourishing: What the Evidence Tells Us About South Africa’s Future

Host
University of the Free State

THEME 5

NAVIGATING EMERGING AND DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

4 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 From Mobility to Impact: Erasmus+ as a Catalyst for Science Partnerships, Skills and Innovation in South Africa

Host
Erasmus+ (DHET and EU Delegation)

09:40 – 11:10 The Future Scientist: Competencies for the Fourth Industrial Revolution From a Skilling and Regulatory Perspective Institute for the Future of Work - Tshwane University of Technology SA Horizon Scanning: Emerging Technologies and Work Futures in South Africa

Host
Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators

11:20 – 12:50 From the Presidential PhD Programme to Societal Impact

Host
National Research Foundation

THEME 6

SCIENCE JOURNALISM AND SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

4 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 From research to the dinner table: Science communication and public acceptance of insect-based foods

Hosts
UMR PAM (Food and Wine Science and Technology)
Institut Agrosup Dijon
Université Bourgogne Europe

09:40 – 11:10 Workshop – Beyond Fake News: What Really Works Against Misinformation?

Hosts
BNSJ/RTS
Serbia

11:20 – 12:50 Science journalism in South Africa and Africa: Facing the realities and igniting innovation

Host
South African Science Journalists Association

THEME 7

SCIENCE DIPLOMACY

4 December 2026

08:00 – 09:30 Strengthening South–South Collaboration in Open Science: Pathways for International Scientific Cooperation for Impact

Host
National Research Foundation (NRF)

09:40 – 11:10 Science Diplomacy: Connecting Science and Society -The Strategic Role of Funding Agencies in International Collaboration, Trust-Building, and Societal Impact

Host
Japan Science and Technology Agency

11:20 – 12:50 Charting a Shared Ocean: Science Diplomacy for Whole-of-Society Marine Spatial Planning

Host
International Platform for Ocean Sustainability

CLOSING PLENARY

4 December 2026

13:00 Closing Plenary

Venue
CSIR ICC (Diamond Auditorium)

Announcement of the Science Diplomacy Awards
Announcement of Exhibition Awards

LUNCH

4 December 2026

14:15 Traditional South African Barbeque networking lunch

Venue
CSIR ICC

Networking braai for SFSA participants from 14:15 – 15:45.

Programme

TUESDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2026

REGISTRATION

MINISTERIAL OPENING PLENARY

WELCOME RECEPTION

WEDNESDAY, 2 DECEMBER 2026

REGISTRATION

REFRESHMENT AND LUNCH TIMES

THEME 1

FINANCING FOR STI

THEME 2

SCIENCE AND SOCIETY NEXUS (AGRICULTURE, SPACE SCIENCE, HEALTH, CLIMATE CHANGE, JUST ENERGY TRANSITION, INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS)

THEME 3

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

THEME 4

ADVANCING REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

THEME 5

NAVIGATING EMERGING AND DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

THEME 6

SCIENCE JOURNALISM AND SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

THEME 7

SCIENCE DIPLOMACY

NETWORKING RECEPTION

THURSDAY, 3 DECEMBER 2026

REGISTRATION

REFRESHMENT AND LUNCH TIMES

THEME 1

FINANCING FOR STI

THEME 2

SCIENCE AND SOCIETY NEXUS (AGRICULTURE, SPACE SCIENCE, HEALTH, CLIMATE CHANGE, JUST ENERGY TRANSITION, INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS)

THEME 3

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

THEME 4

ADVANCING REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

THEME 5

NAVIGATING EMERGING AND DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

THEME 6

SCIENCE JOURNALISM AND SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

THEME 7

SCIENCE DIPLOMACY

NETWORKING RECEPTION

FRIDAY, 4 DECEMBER 2026

REGISTRATION

REFRESHMENT AND LUNCH TIMES

THEME 1

FINANCING FOR STI

THEME 2

SCIENCE AND SOCIETY NEXUS (AGRICULTURE, SPACE SCIENCE, HEALTH, CLIMATE CHANGE, JUST ENERGY TRANSITION, INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS)

THEME 3

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

THEME 4

ADVANCING REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

THEME 5

NAVIGATING EMERGING AND DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

THEME 6

SCIENCE JOURNALISM AND SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

THEME 7

SCIENCE DIPLOMACY

CLOSING PLENARY

LUNCH

CONTACT INFORMATION

Connect with us #SFSA2026

Subscribe