The inception workshop was organized jointly by African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), the Science Policy and Research Unit-at the University of Sussex (SPRU), and the Africa Research and Impact Network (ARIN) on 25th June 2020 via zoom. The workshop brought together 18 delegates drawn from different institutions with an interest in the measurement of STI, including National Science and Technology Commissions and National Research Foundations; national statistical agencies; African initiatives such as AOSTI, ASTII/AUDA–NEPAD, and individual STI experts to discuss African initiatives in the development of Science Technology and innovation indicators including how a relevant dashboard for Africa could look like.

The workshop outlined the objectives of the project, approach and explored examples of African initiatives that are complementing and reinforcing national efforts in the measurement of STI.

The ST&I metrics project was commissioned by DFID-EARH and it runs for 8 months. This project will provide an opportunity to use past & ongoing research to help governments, policy makers & donors make decisions on future investment both in ST&I and in the collection of data to better measure and assess ST&I.