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South Africa-Finland dialogue highlights the role of partnerships in advancing AI
DSTI
3 November 2026
8 min read
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Mr Daan Du Toit, the Deputy Director-General of International Cooperation and Resources at the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), reaffirmed South Africa's commitment to strengthening science, technology and innovation (ST&I) cooperation with Finland, highlighting the importance of international partnerships in advancing artificial intelligence (AI).
Speaking at the South Africa-Finland dialogue, held on 29 October 2026 at the National Research Foundation in Pretoria, Mr Du Toit emphasised that AI presents both opportunities and challenges that require countries to work together, share expertise and experiences, invest in people and infrastructure and develop inclusive approaches to AI governance that respond to societal needs.
The dialogue was jointly organised by Finland's Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences and the University of Jyväskylä and South Africa's North-West University and Tshwane University of Technology, in partnership with the DSTI. The gathering brought together researchers, policymakers and industry representatives from South Africa and Finland to explore AI innovation, responsible applications and opportunities for international research collaboration.
Responding to the question, "Why South Africa-Finland AI cooperation, and why now?", Mr Du Toit explained why this cooperation matters – not only to the Department but also to the government as a whole.
"Firstly, Finland matters. Secondly, we are deeply committed to international cooperation. Thirdly, AI is not a future prospect; it is already here. It presents both opportunities and challenges that we need to engage with now," he said.
South Africa and Finland signed an agreement in the field of science and technology in 2001. In 2008, they signed the Finnish-Southern African Partnership Programme in biosciences (BioFISA). This initiative supported the formation of the Southern Africa Network for Biosciences – a shared research, development and innovation platform that enables collaboration to address key biosciences in health, nutrition and health-related intervention areas such as agriculture and the environment. To date, two phases of BioFISA have been implemented.
Mr Du Toit highlighted the longstanding friendship between South Africa and Finland, rooted in Finland's solidarity with South Africans during the struggle against apartheid. He described the country as a true and loyal friend of the South African people.
He noted that Finland's support was particularly important in the early 1990s and 2000s, including the development of the country's national system of innovation. He acknowledged the support and advice provided by Finnish partners, adding that Finland remained a model of how ST&I could help a country move beyond the challenges of its past.
The Deputy Director-General noted that Finland's experience had informed several government programmes and policies, including the Cooperation Framework on Innovation Systems between Finland and South Africa. He also recalled how the two countries' collaboration in information society technologies helped lay the foundation for some of the current AI capabilities of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
He said the historical relationship provided a strong basis for renewed cooperation, particularly in AI, and reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening ties with Finland and other international partners. He further emphasised the importance of international cooperation, investment in digital infrastructure and developing people through global science partnerships.
"No country or institution has all the answers. We need to share experiences, expertise and knowledge," he said.
Mr Pekka Metso, Ambassador of Finland, emphasised that the important question is not only what AI could do, but what society wanted it to do for them.
"Finland approaches this question with both ambition and responsibility. We invest in research, education and the infrastructure needed to develop and use AI," said Mr Metso.
One example is the LUMI supercomputer in Finland, which is part of a European effort to provide researchers and innovators with powerful computing resources.
He emphasised that technology alone is not enough; skills development, strong institutions and public trust are equally important. According to him, this is evident in the evolving global discussions around data centres and the use of AI.
"We are all still learning. Our universities, companies and public organisations are exploring how best to make use of AI. None of us has all the answers. However, as AI becomes more powerful, international cooperation becomes increasingly important," he added.
Ambassador Metso noted that, last month, the president of Finland and Prime Minister of Norway had launched an international call for the control of frontier AI models and welcomed South Africa's support for the initiative. The initiative seeks to ensure that the most advanced AI systems remain under human direction, oversight and control.
Mr Metso highlighted the complementary strengths of the two countries in AI, noting that South Africa had considerable AI research expertise and strong scientific institutions, while Finland brought valuable experience in research, education and digital technologies.
"We have much to learn from each other, and the number of people gathered here today is a clear indication of our shared interest in this area," he said.
He emphasised the importance of developing AI solutions that respond to the needs and circumstances of different societies, which requires an understanding of languages and local circumstances.
Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the UN University, addressed the topic of responsible AI in a global context, highlighting how AI is transforming societies and the importance of ensuring that its benefits are shared equitably.
He said this is not simply a question of technology, but one of human development, public trust and the collective future.
"Today, AI offers significant opportunities to advance scientific discovery, improve public services, strengthen healthcare systems and expand educational opportunities," said Prof. Marwala.
Recent research suggests that AI could support 79% of the UN Sustainable Development Goals targets, offering innovative solutions to complex challenges that no single country can solve alone.
He cautioned that the complexities associated with AI must be carefully and deliberately managed to prevent the emergence of a new digital divide that could deepen existing inequalities within and between societies.
He emphasised the need to ensure that AI systems reflect societal diversity, uphold human dignity and serve the public good. This would require robust, globally coordinated AI governance that is human-centred, ethical and grounded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He said that the key question was not whether AI would shape the future, but whether humanity would shape AI in ways that benefit everyone, stating that international collaboration is essential to achieving this.
"South Africa and Finland bring complementarity to this conversation, from research excellence and innovation to practical experience in applying emerging technologies to societal challenges. By working together, countries can develop solutions that are not only technically advanced but also locally relevant, responsible and responsive to human needs," he said.
Dr Jabu Mtsweni, CSIR Executive Cluster Manager: NextGen Enterprises and Institutions, spoke about South Africa's sovereign AI infrastructure, noting that the adoption of AI was outpacing policy development. He highlighted that, while South Africa has strong uptake of AI, national governance frameworks and enterprise-wide strategies need to keep pace with its adoption.
He cited the National Integrated Cyberinfrastructure System (NICIS) as an example of South Africa's national foundation for digital research infrastructure. Through its Centre for High-Performance Computing, NICIS provides national cyberinfrastructure services, including high-performance computing, graphics processing unit resources and research cloud platforms.
"This is complemented by high-speed, high-bandwidth research and education network connectivity through the South African National Research Network, as well as the curation and management of large research databases through the Data Intensive Research Infrastructure for South Africa," he said.
Dr Damien Lecarpentier of Finland's CSC – IT Centre for Science, highlighted the centre's special expertise in research infrastructures, interoperability and digital transformation.
"Our competence is the platform on which our society researches, learns and remembers," he said.
Ms Jeanette Morwane, Deputy Director-General of Media and Content at the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), presented on the future of the country's national AI policy.
She stated that AI is advancing rapidly, even as traditional economic growth remained relatively modest. Globally, she identified the USA and China as the two major centres of AI development. The USA gained an early advantage through market investments, infrastructure development and the participation of its companies in the platform economy. However, China is rapidly catching up, with its open-source approach allowing other countries and organisations to access, use and customise AI models for their own needs.
She further emphasised the need for countries to invest in computing capacity, noting that South Africa was also exploring investments in this area, and stressed the importance of ensuring that the use of available data is balanced with appropriate measures to protect data that the country needs to retain control over. Focusing on South Africa's experience, she cited the South African Revenue Service, which uses AI to monitor spending, as well as major retailers such as Pick n Pay and smaller businesses that are increasingly adopting AI solutions.
Ms Morwane explained that the DCDT is currently revising the national AI policy following Minister Solly Malatsi's decision to withdraw the earlier version. To support the process, the Minister had appointed an independent AI Policy Expert Review Panel, chaired by Prof. Benjamin Rosman, Director of the Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand.
"The Department is developing implementation roadmaps alongside the policy so that the country can begin implementation as soon as the policy is approved," concluded Ms Morwane.
Speaking at the South Africa-Finland dialogue, held on 29 October 2026 at the National Research Foundation in Pretoria, Mr Du Toit emphasised that AI presents both opportunities and challenges that require countries to work together, share expertise and experiences, invest in people and infrastructure and develop inclusive approaches to AI governance that respond to societal needs.
The dialogue was jointly organised by Finland's Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences and the University of Jyväskylä and South Africa's North-West University and Tshwane University of Technology, in partnership with the DSTI. The gathering brought together researchers, policymakers and industry representatives from South Africa and Finland to explore AI innovation, responsible applications and opportunities for international research collaboration.
Responding to the question, "Why South Africa-Finland AI cooperation, and why now?", Mr Du Toit explained why this cooperation matters – not only to the Department but also to the government as a whole.
"Firstly, Finland matters. Secondly, we are deeply committed to international cooperation. Thirdly, AI is not a future prospect; it is already here. It presents both opportunities and challenges that we need to engage with now," he said.
South Africa and Finland signed an agreement in the field of science and technology in 2001. In 2008, they signed the Finnish-Southern African Partnership Programme in biosciences (BioFISA). This initiative supported the formation of the Southern Africa Network for Biosciences – a shared research, development and innovation platform that enables collaboration to address key biosciences in health, nutrition and health-related intervention areas such as agriculture and the environment. To date, two phases of BioFISA have been implemented.
Mr Du Toit highlighted the longstanding friendship between South Africa and Finland, rooted in Finland's solidarity with South Africans during the struggle against apartheid. He described the country as a true and loyal friend of the South African people.
He noted that Finland's support was particularly important in the early 1990s and 2000s, including the development of the country's national system of innovation. He acknowledged the support and advice provided by Finnish partners, adding that Finland remained a model of how ST&I could help a country move beyond the challenges of its past.
The Deputy Director-General noted that Finland's experience had informed several government programmes and policies, including the Cooperation Framework on Innovation Systems between Finland and South Africa. He also recalled how the two countries' collaboration in information society technologies helped lay the foundation for some of the current AI capabilities of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
He said the historical relationship provided a strong basis for renewed cooperation, particularly in AI, and reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening ties with Finland and other international partners. He further emphasised the importance of international cooperation, investment in digital infrastructure and developing people through global science partnerships.
"No country or institution has all the answers. We need to share experiences, expertise and knowledge," he said.
Mr Pekka Metso, Ambassador of Finland, emphasised that the important question is not only what AI could do, but what society wanted it to do for them.
"Finland approaches this question with both ambition and responsibility. We invest in research, education and the infrastructure needed to develop and use AI," said Mr Metso.
One example is the LUMI supercomputer in Finland, which is part of a European effort to provide researchers and innovators with powerful computing resources.
He emphasised that technology alone is not enough; skills development, strong institutions and public trust are equally important. According to him, this is evident in the evolving global discussions around data centres and the use of AI.
"We are all still learning. Our universities, companies and public organisations are exploring how best to make use of AI. None of us has all the answers. However, as AI becomes more powerful, international cooperation becomes increasingly important," he added.
Ambassador Metso noted that, last month, the president of Finland and Prime Minister of Norway had launched an international call for the control of frontier AI models and welcomed South Africa's support for the initiative. The initiative seeks to ensure that the most advanced AI systems remain under human direction, oversight and control.
Mr Metso highlighted the complementary strengths of the two countries in AI, noting that South Africa had considerable AI research expertise and strong scientific institutions, while Finland brought valuable experience in research, education and digital technologies.
"We have much to learn from each other, and the number of people gathered here today is a clear indication of our shared interest in this area," he said.
He emphasised the importance of developing AI solutions that respond to the needs and circumstances of different societies, which requires an understanding of languages and local circumstances.
Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the UN University, addressed the topic of responsible AI in a global context, highlighting how AI is transforming societies and the importance of ensuring that its benefits are shared equitably.
He said this is not simply a question of technology, but one of human development, public trust and the collective future.
"Today, AI offers significant opportunities to advance scientific discovery, improve public services, strengthen healthcare systems and expand educational opportunities," said Prof. Marwala.
Recent research suggests that AI could support 79% of the UN Sustainable Development Goals targets, offering innovative solutions to complex challenges that no single country can solve alone.
He cautioned that the complexities associated with AI must be carefully and deliberately managed to prevent the emergence of a new digital divide that could deepen existing inequalities within and between societies.
He emphasised the need to ensure that AI systems reflect societal diversity, uphold human dignity and serve the public good. This would require robust, globally coordinated AI governance that is human-centred, ethical and grounded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He said that the key question was not whether AI would shape the future, but whether humanity would shape AI in ways that benefit everyone, stating that international collaboration is essential to achieving this.
"South Africa and Finland bring complementarity to this conversation, from research excellence and innovation to practical experience in applying emerging technologies to societal challenges. By working together, countries can develop solutions that are not only technically advanced but also locally relevant, responsible and responsive to human needs," he said.
Dr Jabu Mtsweni, CSIR Executive Cluster Manager: NextGen Enterprises and Institutions, spoke about South Africa's sovereign AI infrastructure, noting that the adoption of AI was outpacing policy development. He highlighted that, while South Africa has strong uptake of AI, national governance frameworks and enterprise-wide strategies need to keep pace with its adoption.
He cited the National Integrated Cyberinfrastructure System (NICIS) as an example of South Africa's national foundation for digital research infrastructure. Through its Centre for High-Performance Computing, NICIS provides national cyberinfrastructure services, including high-performance computing, graphics processing unit resources and research cloud platforms.
"This is complemented by high-speed, high-bandwidth research and education network connectivity through the South African National Research Network, as well as the curation and management of large research databases through the Data Intensive Research Infrastructure for South Africa," he said.
Dr Damien Lecarpentier of Finland's CSC – IT Centre for Science, highlighted the centre's special expertise in research infrastructures, interoperability and digital transformation.
"Our competence is the platform on which our society researches, learns and remembers," he said.
Ms Jeanette Morwane, Deputy Director-General of Media and Content at the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), presented on the future of the country's national AI policy.
She stated that AI is advancing rapidly, even as traditional economic growth remained relatively modest. Globally, she identified the USA and China as the two major centres of AI development. The USA gained an early advantage through market investments, infrastructure development and the participation of its companies in the platform economy. However, China is rapidly catching up, with its open-source approach allowing other countries and organisations to access, use and customise AI models for their own needs.
She further emphasised the need for countries to invest in computing capacity, noting that South Africa was also exploring investments in this area, and stressed the importance of ensuring that the use of available data is balanced with appropriate measures to protect data that the country needs to retain control over. Focusing on South Africa's experience, she cited the South African Revenue Service, which uses AI to monitor spending, as well as major retailers such as Pick n Pay and smaller businesses that are increasingly adopting AI solutions.
Ms Morwane explained that the DCDT is currently revising the national AI policy following Minister Solly Malatsi's decision to withdraw the earlier version. To support the process, the Minister had appointed an independent AI Policy Expert Review Panel, chaired by Prof. Benjamin Rosman, Director of the Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand.
"The Department is developing implementation roadmaps alongside the policy so that the country can begin implementation as soon as the policy is approved," concluded Ms Morwane.
