IDENTIFYING THE NEXT FRONTIER OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

AFRICAN UNION BEGINS SEARCH FOR THE NEXT SET OF PRIORITY EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

In 2016, the African Union High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies (APET) identified a set of ten (10) priority emerging technologies to guide Africa’s strategic engagement with frontier innovations. These included:

1.  Gene drives;
2. Microgrids;
3. Drones for precision agriculture;
4. Next-generation medicine;
5. Artificial Intelligence;
6. Urban agriculture
7. Synthetic Biology (Gene Editing);
8. 3D printing;
9. Next-generation batteries, and
10. Water purification.

This priority areas have since informed continental policy advisory, supported Member States in developing enabling regulatory frameworks, and guided programmes aimed at leveraging innovation for Africa’s socio-economic transformation.
At its 39th Ordinary Session held in February 2026, the African Union Assembly directed APET to identify the next set of emerging technologies critical to Africa’s development. In response to this directive, APET is launching a continental call for stakeholder input to inform the identification of the next set of priority emerging technologies.

Gene Drives and Gene Editing are key areas in science which the African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium supports. Our goal is to build trust in genetic biocontrol technologies through establishing and maintaining effective strategic partnerships.

Of the 10 priority areas identified a decade ago, professionals in different sectors will resonate with different frontier innovations. The idea is to ensure that Africa is not falling behind all the time and then being prevented from catching up.

Which technologies would you root for in the next decade? Click the link to add your voice.