Digital sovereignty in Africa. German Federal President Steinmeier in dialogue with experts from 14 African countries

“The project focuses on Africa’s digital sovereignty in a globalised world” – that’s how Wolfgang Schulz explains the project. He is the research head of the project and director of the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG). To focus on this vision, 25 participants from 14 different African countries were selected for this research sprint. Over the course of eight weeks, the fellows examine various issues, approaches to solutions and digital technologies from an inner-African perspective. “It is important to listen to international discussions on the relationship between digitalisation and state self-determination from diverse societal perspectives”, Schulz further comments. “The European quest for digital sovereignty can only be truly authentic if it is based on exchange, openness and mutual understanding.”

A continental task
Led by the South African Research Chair in Industrial Development at the University of Johannesburg (SARChI-ID), the participants in the research sprint will address the question of how individual African countries can leverage their respective digital advantages for themselves without isolating themselves economically from one another. To do so, they put themselves in the shoes of the continent’s civil society, technology companies, and policymakers. Their goal is to initiate an ongoing exchange across national discourses.

The ethics of digitisation
The event is part of the research project “Ethics of Digitalization – From Principles to Practices“, in which international researchers from different disciplines are working on joint answers to ethical questions of digitalisation. Under the umbrella of the Global Network of Internet and Society Research Centers (NoC),  HIIG and SARChI-ID are collaborating with the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard University, the Digital Asia Hub and the Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans Bredow Institute as project partners.
German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is patron of the project. Stiftung Mercator is funding the project for two years.

Further information: Official announcement of the Federal President, SARChI-ID project page, Ethics of Digitalisation project page

About the “The Ethics of Digitalisation – From Principles to Practices” research project.
Taking place under the umbrella of NoC (the Global Network of Internet and Society Research Centers), the project is funded by Stiftung Mercator. International experts from science, politics, civil society and business will analyse the ethical issues of digitalisation. Interdisciplinary and international research sprints and clinics in which international researchers from different disciplines work together across disciplines form the core of the project, and together, these researchers  develop joint answers to the ethical questions of digitisation. In addition, the sprints and clinics offer scientists the opportunity to network with each other and with high-ranking actors from politics, business and society.

About NoC
NoC (the Global Network of Internet and Society Research Centers) is a worldwide initiative of academic institutions focused on interdisciplinary research on the Internet and society. The goal of the initiative is to strengthen collaboration among participating centres to promote cross-national and cross-disciplinary exchange on the most pressing issues related to new technologies.

About Stiftung Mercator
Stiftung Mercator is a private, independent foundation. Through its work, it strives to create a society characterized by openness to the world, solidarity and equal opportunities. In doing so, it focuses on strengthening Europe, increasing the educational success of disadvantaged children and young people, especially those with an immigrant background, improving the quality and impact of cultural education, advancing climate protection and promoting science. Stiftung Mercator stands for the combination of scientific expertise and practical project experience. As a leading foundation in Germany, it is active both nationally and internationally. It is particularly committed to the Ruhr region, the home of the founding family and the seat of the foundation.