Articles

In just a few years, Africa’s robotics community has gone from scattered grassroots efforts to center stage at global events. Now, following the resounding success of the ICRA@40–Africa conference in 2024—a first-of-its-kind robotics gathering on the continent—we are proud to announce the 3rd Workshop on Robotics and Automation in Africa, to be held at the 2025 Deep Learning Indaba.

This workshop continues a journey that began in Ghana in 2023 and gathered speed in Senegal in 2024. Both editions sparked widespread enthusiasm and laid the groundwork for ICRA@40–Africa, which brought together researchers from across the continent and diaspora, showcasing cutting-edge African robotics research across domains like agriculture, healthcare, and autonomous systems (Strengthening Robotics and Automation in Africa: Highlights of ICRA@40–Africa ).

As highlighted in the Science Robotics feature “Robotics in Africa is trending upward and has a bright future” by Prof. David Vernon, and in his extensive documentation on AI and Robotics in Africa we are witnessing a pivotal moment. From surgical robots in Cape Town to agricultural drones in Ghana, the continent is not just adopting robotics—it’s shaping the future of the field. African researchers and innovators are increasingly contributing to global robotics dialogue, while developing solutions uniquely tailored to local challenges.

This year’s workshop edition expands its scope to include automation, recognizing the powerful intersection between robotics and AI in solving practical problems across Africa’s key sectors—from farming to mining to manufacturing (Robotics In Africa Workshop). The full-day program includes:

• Talks from leading voices in African and global robotics, including experts from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Real Time Robotics, Google Research Africa, and Brown University.

• A hands-on robotics demo and tutorial—because we believe learning is best done by doing.

• A panel discussion with our exciting speaker list. 

• Dedicated networking time, to foster new connections and strengthen the pan-African robotics community.

Robotics in Africa is at a tipping point. Challenges remain—limited access to hardware, funding, and cross-border collaboration—but the enthusiasm, talent, and momentum are undeniable. Our workshop is more than a technical event; it’s a catalyst for change, a platform for collaboration, and a celebration of African innovation.

The momentum behind this movement was recently on display at the Robotics in Africa Forum at ICRA 2025, which showcased cutting-edge work in education, agriculture, and open-source robotics development, placing African-led research squarely in the global spotlight.

Whether you’re a curious beginner or an experienced researcher, this workshop invites you to be part of Africa’s robotics future.