The Africa Center for Digital Transformation (ACDT) led a high-impact Research Forum focused on the transformative role of Digital Twin technologies in shaping smart infrastructure, resilient economies, and digitally sovereign nations across Africa at the prestigious Future of Digital Countries Summit in Cairo.
The forum, which attracted scholars, technologists, policymakers, and private sector innovators from across the globe, was spearheaded by Dr. Shady Adib, a distinguished Research Associate with ACDT, who holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with a specialisation in Digital Twin systems.
Dr. Adib’s leadership in this session marked a pivotal moment for African-led digital research on an international platform.
Opening the session, Dr. Adib outlined the strategic potential of Digital Twin technology, virtual replicas of physical systems in enabling predictive analytics, resource optimisation, and informed decision-making in urban planning, infrastructure development, and climate resilience.
Drawing from ongoing ACDT-led research, he presented a series of case studies and pilot projects demonstrating how Digital Twins can radically improve how African governments and cities plan, build, and manage complex systems.
“In Africa, the urgency for digitally informed planning is not theoretical, it is existential,” Dr. Adib stated.
“Digital Twin technologies offer us the rare opportunity to leapfrog traditional development bottlenecks by using real-time data and simulation models to anticipate failures, optimize systems, and enhance public service delivery.”
ACDT’s participation in the summit reflects its growing influence as a thought leader and convener in Africa’s digital transformation journey.
The Research Forum provided an opportunity to showcase ACDT’s integrated model for knowledge production, capacity building, and policy influence one that bridges academic research with practical implementation and pan-African collaboration.
The session emphasised the importance of African-driven digital research in global forums. Dr. Adib noted that Africa’s digital future must not rely on imported models alone.
Instead, institutions like ACDT are championing homegrown research ecosystems that align with local development contexts while engaging meaningfully with international partners.
The Research Forum also featured a panel discussion where delegates from North Africa, East Africa, and Southern Africa engaged with Dr. Adib on how Digital Twin systems could be applied across transportation, water infrastructure, healthcare systems, and smart agriculture.
Attendees called for stronger cross-border research cooperation, supported by institutions like ACDT, to enable shared learning and technological diffusion.
Participants lauded ACDT’s commitment to fostering continental digital research capacity, highlighting its work in hosting fellowships, developing policy toolkits, and supporting the next generation of African tech researchers.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Adib reiterated that Africa’s digital transformation must be data-informed, human-centered, and future-oriented.
“We are not simply participating in the digital future, we are shaping it,” he concluded. “Our research is not an end. It is a call to action for governments, academia, and industry to build together, better, and smarter.”
ACDT’s leadership at the summit has further cemented its role as a continental hub for digital thought leadership and collaborative innovation.
As Africa charts its course toward digital sovereignty, platforms like today’s Research Forum offer a powerful reminder that the continent’s future is being designed not just in boardrooms or capitals but in research labs, data centers, and collaborative spaces where bold ideas meet shared vision.
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