The University of Pretoria (UP) has received a $1 million (R18m) donation from Google to support the African Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AfriDSAI).
The Institute is hosted by UP, and led by Prof Vukosi Marivate, the ABSA Chair of Data Science and a Professor in the Department of Computer Science.
Prof Vukosi Marivate, said this funding is a major step in driving Africa to become a significant contributor to the global AI research landscape.
At UP, the fund is expected to support catalytic activities such as fellowships for MSc, PhD, and postdoctoral researchers; research in priority sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, natural language processing, and climate resilience across the continent.
“This gift significantly enhances AfriDSAI’s ability to conduct high-impact, socially responsive research and grow a new generation of African data scientists and AI leaders. It strengthens our mission to build sustainable AI research communities across Africa and ensure that AI technologies developed here are shaped by local knowledge and values. As Africa currently contributes only 0.9% of global AI research output, this kind of investment is vital in changing that narrative.”
AfriDSAI aims to position Africa not only as a beneficiary of AI innovation, but as a global contributor.
Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria, said “the University of Pretoria is committed to being a thought leader in knowledge generation that is relevant, inclusive, and solutions-oriented. This generous support from Google aligns with our strategy to advance research with impact and reinforce Africa’s position in the global AI ecosystem. AfriDSAI is a flagship example of how we aim to drive innovation with real-world impact.”
Picture: UP