The eighth Annual Data Intensive Research Initiative of South Africa (DIRISA) National Research Data Workshop is officially underway at the CSIR International Convention Centre (CSIR ICC) in Pretoria, taking place on 1 and 2 July 2026.

Hosted under the theme “Enhancing Technologies for Data-Driven Development for Africa,” the two-day event aims to propel data-intensive research and foster an enhanced comprehension of research data management and open science. The workshop maintains a keen focus on leveraging data and open science to augment the quality of life in South Africa and the broader African continent.

Key discussion themes:

• Digital resilience: Africa’s current stance on digital transformation, data infrastructure, data security, data sovereignty and systemic cyber resilience.
• Inclusive economic development: The direct impact of data literacy and data sovereignty on African economic growth.
• Public-private partnerships: The underlying pros and cons of sharing data through collaborative partnerships between the private and public sectors.

For more information and updates, visit the official DIRISA website.