Stellenbosch University’s Policy Innovation Lab has joined the Global Network of Internet & Society Centers (NoC), coordinated by the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. This makes SU one of only three members from Africa, and the only South African university represented in the network, says Prof Willem Fourie, head of the Policy Innovation Lab.
This membership is significant as the NoC has launched an ambitious 2024–2026 roadmap aimed at strengthening international collaboration on the societal impacts of emerging technologies, from artificial intelligence to quantum computing.
Through the Lab’s membership of the NoC, it has also now been invited to become the South Africa expert node for the AI Policy Observatory, a global initiative run by the University of Zurich and Kyoto University.
The NoC is a collaborative initiative that brings together leading academic centres focused on interdisciplinary research into the development, social impact, policy implications and legal dimensions of the internet and emerging technologies.
Over the past decade, the network has supported global research collaborations, policy engagement and educational initiatives that address how digital technologies are transforming societies, explains Fourie. “Building on this foundation, the new roadmap sets out shared priorities for the next phase of collaboration. These include increasing the visibility and influence of the network in global technology policy debates, bridging information gaps around emerging technologies, and strengthening interdisciplinary partnerships across regions and sectors.”
Five areas to strengthen collaboration
To achieve these goals, the roadmap identifies five core areas of engagement that will guide the network’s activities over the next two years: internal collaboration and engagement; external engagement; shared knowledge and education; collaborative research and events; and global dialogue.
The roadmap identifies several thematic areas where collaborative research will be particularly important.
One of the most prominent is generative artificial intelligence, a rapidly evolving technology that has raised questions about governance, ethics and social inclusion. The network aims to contribute to the development of governance frameworks that reflect diverse cultural, institutional and regional perspectives.
This component of the NoC’s work aligns close with the Lab’s work on the use of AI to transform the policymaking process, and in particular with its piloting of Africa’s first AI for policy platform.
Other areas of focus include the societal implications of quantum technologies, the rise of spatial computing and immersive digital environments, and the impact of technology on labour markets and future skills. Researchers will also examine how digital technologies affect electoral processes and democratic systems, as well as the broader relationship between technology and human wellbeing.
Safeguarding children and young people in digital environments is another priority area, reflecting growing global concern about the effects of online platforms and emerging technologies on younger users.
The roadmap encourages experimentation with new approaches to understanding and regulating technology, explains Fourie. These include tools such as regulatory sandboxes and policy prototypes that allow governments and researchers to test new regulatory ideas before implementing them more broadly.
Also this component of the NoC’s work resonates strongly with the activities of the Lab. Through its partnerships with leading global universities, such as the Technical University of Munich, the Lab hosts regulatory sandbox workshops focused on the regulatory changes required to implement digital public infrastructure in South Africa.
The network also highlights the role of creative practices — including storytelling, visual media and public art — in helping society better understand the complex relationship between technology and human life.
“By combining interdisciplinary research, global collaboration and innovative public engagement, the NoC aims to strengthen its role as a leading international platform for examining the societal implications of emerging technologies,” says Fourie.
Through this roadmap, the network hopes to deepen cooperation across regions, disciplines and sectors, ensuring that research on digital technologies contributes meaningfully to policy development, public debate, and more inclusive and responsible digital futures.
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