Call for Abstracts for the 4th EAC Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Conference
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 3rd December, 2025:The East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO) and the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), in collaboration with regional and global partners in the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) ecosystem, announce the call for abstracts for the 4th EAC Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Conference. The Conference will take place from 4th to 6th March, 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda.
Convened under the theme βHarnessing Responsible Artificial Intelligence for the East Africa We Envision,β the Conference will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, academicians, innovators, students, development partners and civil society to deliberate on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in advancing regional development and integration.
The 2026 edition builds on the successful deliberations of the previous conferences held in Kampala (2019), Bujumbura (2021) and Nairobi (2024). This edition of the Conference will examine the opportunities and challenges surrounding the responsible deployment of AI in the region, including skills development, infrastructure readiness, ethical and governance considerations, and regulatory frameworks.
Participants will engage through paper presentations, panel discussions, high-level policy dialogues and a dedicated youth engagement session. The Conference will also feature selected exhibitions showcasing innovative technologies and products developed across East Africa. Outcomes of the Conference will be compiled into concrete resolutions aimed at guiding effective adoption and application of AI in the region.
All full papers submitted will undergo a peer-review process to assess originality, technical quality and relevance to the Conference theme and thematic areas. Accepted papers will be published in the East African Journal of Science, Technology and Innovation (EAJSTI) to promote dissemination of research findings and enhance regional visibility and competitiveness.
Thematic Areas
Researchers and innovators are invited to submit abstracts under the following six thematic areas:
- AI for Agriculture and Food Security
- AI for Health, Well-being and Biomedical Innovation
- AI for Education, Skills Development and Research Excellence
- AI for Climate Resilience, Environment and Natural Resource Management
- AI for Industry, Service Delivery and the Economy
- AI Governance, Ethics and Regional Cooperation
Submission Guidelines
Abstracts should not exceed 300 words, must be in MS Word (Times New Roman, size 12) and include no more than five keywords. The deadline for submission of abstracts is 15th December, 2025. Authors of accepted abstracts will be invited to submit full papers and PowerPoint presentations ahead of the Conference.
Abstracts should be submitted electronically to:
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Further information is available at: www.4thsticonference.easteco.org
Participation and Sponsorship
Participation in the Conference is open, and submissions are welcome from researchers, industrialists and innovators from academia, research institutions, and the public and private sectors within East Africa and beyond. While participation will largely be self-sponsored, the Conference may support a limited number of participants whose papers demonstrate exceptional quality and relevance.
For more information, contact:
EASTECO Secretariat
5th Floor, Queens Land Building, Kigali, Rwanda
Tel: +250-788310402 / +250-788165200
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IUCEA Secretariat
Plot M833, Kigobe Road, Kyambogo, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: +256 393001553
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