Designing a Pan-African Research Infrastructure for Digital Sciences: DIGITAfrica Vision, Blueprint Methodology, and Roadmap
Abstract Digital research infrastructures underpin data-intensive science, reproducible experimentation, and collaborative innovation. In Africa, their development remains hindered by fragmentation, limited computing and connectivity resources, shortages of technical expertise, and sustainability constraints. This paper presents the vision, methodology, and deployment roadmap of DIGITAfrica, a Horizon Europe initiative preparing a pan-African Research Infrastructure in digital sciences. Building on a multi-country demand analysis and lessons from the ESFRI research infrastructures SLICES and SoBigData, we introduce a blueprint-based methodology for specifying interoperable, incrementally deployable, and sustainable digital infrastructures. We describe two representative blueprints—edge-interoperable AI/ML and heterogeneous networking—and the shared service architecture that operationalise them. Finally, we outline the stakeholder engagement process intended to support adoption, capacity building, and long-term governance. Overall, DIGITAfrica proposes a federated framework to strengthen digital science capabilities in Africa through shared infrastructure, reusable experimental environments, and coordinated community development.