With internet penetration in Africa reaching around 43% in 2024 and mobile broadband subscriptions growing at over 10% annually, the continent is poised for digital transformation. Yet, the digital divide remains stark; rural access to connectivity lags significantly behind urban areas, and digital literacy rates vary widely across regions. India’s experience in building digital public infrastructure, such as UPI and Aadhaar, offers replicable models for inclusion and scale. This session explored how India and Africa can collaborate on R&D, digital skilling, innovation hubs, and public–private models to drive digital empowerment and bridge access gaps.

This is a recording of session VIII ‘Accelerating Africa’s Digital Future through Innovation and R&D’ at the 20th CII India Africa Business Conclave, held on 27-29 August 2025 in New Delhi.