LUANDA — ThinkYoung and Boeing have launched the first edition of their STEM School in Angola, targeting young learners with hands-on training in science, technology, and aviation-related fields.

The free programme, held in Luanda, brought together 52 participants aged between 12 and 18, with girls accounting for nearly 60 percent of the cohort. The initiative was delivered in partnership with the American Schools of Angola and Global Shapers Luanda.

Organisers say the programme is designed to expose young people to emerging technologies while building foundational skills in problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking—competencies increasingly seen as essential for future employment.

The latest curriculum marks an expansion from earlier editions, moving beyond coding to include modules in artificial intelligence, robotics, and the metaverse. Participants were also introduced to career pathways in aviation and advanced technologies.

Boeing’s Africa managing director Henok Teferra Shawl said the initiative aligns with Angola’s broader push to invest in science and technology education.

“By giving students hands-on experience in robotics, AI and aviation technologies, we create opportunities and build a pipeline of tech-savvy, skilled talent,” he said.

ThinkYoung founder Andrea Gerosa said the expansion of the programme reflects growing urgency around equipping young people with future-ready skills amid rapid technological change.

“In a time of global uncertainty and rapid advances in AI, STEM skills are more important than ever. They equip young people to think critically and solve complex problems while opening doors to successful careers,” he said.

The Angola rollout marks the latest step in a broader expansion strategy by ThinkYoung and Boeing across Africa, Europe, and West Asia. The next edition of the STEM School is scheduled to take place in Dakar, Senegal, later this year.

Over the past decade, the partnership has reached nearly 1,900 young people globally, including about 850 in Africa, with a strong emphasis on gender inclusion. Organisers say around 60 percent of participants have been girls and young women.

The initiative comes as African economies increasingly prioritise digital skills development to support industrialisation, innovation, and job creation. Governments across the continent are investing in STEM education as part of long-term strategies to build competitive, knowledge-based economies.

For Angola, the programme adds to ongoing efforts to strengthen human capital in science and technology, positioning young people to participate in a rapidly evolving global economy.

The post ThinkYoung, Boeing launch STEM School in Angola to build Africa’s Tech talent pipeline appeared first on 256 Business News.

Africa’s gaming industry is shifting toward AI-driven risk management, with operators adopting predictive tools and identity systems to tackle fraud and protect players in real time.

Africa’s fast-growing gaming industry is entering a new phase of risk management, with operators increasingly deploying artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to detect harmful behaviour and fraud in real time.

Insights from a recent industry discussion at the Africa Gaming Expo 2026 point to a structural shift away from reactive responsible gaming models toward systems designed to anticipate risk before it escalates.

Industry players, including identity verification firm Sumsub, say traditional approaches—where intervention occurs only after clear signs of harm—are proving insufficient in a market defined by rapid growth, mobile access and evolving user behaviour.

Historically, operators have relied on visible warning signs such as large losses or erratic betting patterns to trigger intervention. However, new tools now allow earlier detection of risk through behavioural signals such as increased deposit frequency, loss-chasing tendencies and prolonged session intensity.

“Responsible gaming has largely been reactive, with operators intervening once clear signs of harm have already emerged,” says Richy Emah Sumsub’s Regional Director for North/West Africa. “But by that stage, the damage is often already done.”

Emah further says that the industry is now moving toward earlier intervention models. “Early behavioural indicators can signal risk long before it escalates, allowing operators to act more effectively and in real time,” he said.

The shift is being enabled by advances in machine learning, which allow operators to move beyond static rule-based systems toward dynamic models that assess player behaviour continuously.

At the same time, the sector is facing a rapidly changing fraud landscape. According to data from Sumsub, fraud in iGaming rose by 8pc year-on-year, but the nature of threats has changed significantly.

AI-driven fraud techniques—including synthetic identities and deepfake-based verification bypass—now account for a growing share of cases.

“Fraudsters are already using AI—from synthetic identities to deepfakes—to bypass safeguards,” Emah observes. “The only viable response is to fight AI with more advanced AI.”

A central theme emerging from the industry is the importance of robust identity verification as the backbone of risk management.

Without strong onboarding systems, operators face challenges in preventing underage gambling, detecting multi-accounting and identifying fraud patterns—risks that are amplified in Africa’s mobile-first and cross-border digital environment.

“If there is one non-negotiable safeguard, it is strong and frictionless identity verification from day one,” Emah stressed. “Without that foundation, you cannot effectively prevent abuse or build accurate risk profiles.”

Despite the growing role of automation, industry players stress that human oversight remains critical. Customer support teams are still needed to interpret behavioural signals and engage users appropriately.

“Responsible gaming is not just a technological challenge—it is a human one,” Emah said, noting the importance of combining automation with accountability and empathy.

The move toward predictive risk management reflects a broader strategic recalibration within the industry, where responsible gaming is increasingly viewed as a driver of long-term sustainability rather than a compliance obligation.

“Africa’s gaming industry has a choice—scale first and manage risk later, or build responsibly from the outset,” Emah warns. “Those that choose the latter will define a more sustainable future for the sector.”

The post African gaming industry faces tough choices as AI reshapes problem gambling prevention appeared first on 256 Business News.

SITA is extending its aviation-grade digital identity technology into the maritime sector, piloting a new system designed to modernise how seafarers are identified and certified across global shipping routes.

The initiative, developed in partnership with IDsure and Columbia Shipmanagement, replaces paper-based crew documentation with secure, interoperable digital credentials—marking a significant shift for an industry that has long relied on manual verification processes.

At the core of the pilot is a digital Seafarer Handbook, which allows crew members to store verified certificates on their mobile devices. Using a secure, GDPR-compliant application, seafarers can share their credentials instantly with port authorities and operators, while maintaining control over their personal data.

The system leverages SITA’s identity verification technology to authenticate passports and national IDs, enabling real-time validation of crew credentials at ports. This reduces processing times from hours to minutes, easing administrative burdens and improving operational efficiency for shipping companies.

“This project is a glimpse into the future of global mobility,” said Pedro Alves, Senior Vice President at SITA. “Across every mode of transport, identity is still managed through paper-based and manual systems. By extending trusted digital identity to the maritime sector, we’re showing how the same secure technology that lets systems ‘speak’ to each other can also protect people’s personal data. It means crew identities can be checked instantly and safely wherever they travel, reducing delays, easing administrative burden for operators, and helping crews move faster between vessels and ports. What we’re building with IDsure and our partners in the SmartSea ecosystem isn’t just innovation at sea, it’s a model for how digital identity can connect the world, safely and seamlessly, initially for seafarers, but extending to all ocean goers.”

The pilot is part of the broader SmartSea strategy, which aims to bring the same level of digital maturity seen in air travel to maritime operations. By linking digital identity with Port State Control processes, the solution supports faster compliance checks and reduces the risk of fraud and documentation errors.

Early adoption signals growing momentum. The Bahamas Maritime Authority has already partnered with IDsure to introduce digital seafarer record books and competency certificates, reflecting increasing interest among regulators in transitioning to paperless systems.

With more than two million seafarers operating across roughly 75,000 merchant vessels worldwide, the shift to digital identity could have far-reaching implications. For operators, it promises streamlined processes and lower costs. For regulators, it enhances oversight and compliance. For seafarers, it simplifies documentation and improves mobility between vessels and ports.

Initially focused on bridge officers, the pilot is expected to expand as more maritime authorities and industry players seek to modernise certification frameworks.

The move underscores a broader convergence between aviation and maritime technologies, as digital identity systems evolve into a shared infrastructure across global transport networks—offering a more secure, efficient, and connected future for international mobility.

“With this pilot, we are helping maritime authorities, training institutes, and shipping operators take a practical step toward digital certification,” said Jesper Holmgren, CEO at IDsure. “Working with SITA and Columbia Shipmanagement, we are replacing fragmented, paper-based processes with a more secure and verifiable digital approach built for global shipping.”

The post SITA pilots digital identity for global maritime operations appeared first on 256 Business News.

International airlines lobby IATA, has called on European policymakers to redirect aviation sector contributions under the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) towards accelerating the development of a competitive and scalable sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market.

The appeal comes as the aviation industry faces rising compliance costs under the EU’s carbon pricing regime, with IATA arguing that a greater share of revenues generated from airlines should be reinvested into decarbonisation efforts—particularly SAF production.

According to the industry body, rechanneling these funds could help close a significant financing gap and support the emergence of a price-competitive, open and mature SAF market across Europe. Current estimates suggest that meeting the EU’s SAF demand could require between €57 billion and €67 billion by 2035, rising to as much as €376 billion by 2050.

The aviation sector is expected to surrender nearly 330 million carbon allowances between 2026 and 2030, generating billions of euros for EU member states. However, IATA notes that only a small fraction of these revenues is currently being reinvested into aviation’s green transition, with existing support mechanisms such as the SAF allowance scheme covering just 4–5 percent of industry needs over the same period.

IATA’s call comes amid growing scepticism among European policymakers over the effectiveness of the EU ETS and its impact on competitiveness. The concerns echo findings in the Draghi Report, which identifies high costs, regulatory complexity and underinvestment as key constraints on Europe’s economic resilience. In a period marked by geopolitical volatility and supply chain disruptions, IATA argues that maintaining strong air connectivity is critical to the region’s global standing.

IATA Director General Willie Walsh argues that a review of the EU ETS presents an opportunity to realign climate policy with practical decarbonisation outcomes.

“European aviation policy must bolster competitiveness as it advances decarbonization. Reviewing the EU ETS offers a critical opportunity to refocus efforts on cost-effective emission reductions. The priority must be the full implementation of CORSIA, the reinvestment of EU ETS revenues into SAF and other credible decarbonization solutions, and the elimination of overlapping measures that add cost and complexity without environmental gain. By doing so, we will protect European air connectivity—a vital strategic asset foundational to EU integration, trade, and commerce. Amid global economic strain and geopolitical volatility, the EU ETS review must deliver a harmonized climate policy framework that balances the sector’s competitiveness with its climate ambitions,” he said.

Beyond funding, the lobby is also advocating for structural reforms to support SAF adoption. A key proposal is the introduction of a “book-and-claim” system, which would allow airlines to purchase SAF credits regardless of where the fuel is physically supplied. This approach is seen as critical for building a liquid and transparent SAF market, particularly in regions without direct access to supply hubs.

At the same time, IATA is warning against policy fragmentation. It is urging the EU to fully align with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s global carbon framework, known as Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, rather than layering additional regional measures that could increase costs without delivering proportional environmental benefits.

IATA argues that without a more balanced approach, rising carbon costs could weaken air connectivity, limit consumer choice and divert capital away from long-term green investments. It is also calling for a reconsideration of the phase-out of free emissions allowances for airlines, warning that a sharp increase in cost exposure could undermine both operational resilience and decarbonisation efforts.

The debate comes at a critical juncture for the aviation sector, as it seeks to scale up sustainable fuel production while maintaining global competitiveness. For IATA, the solution lies not in increasing the financial burden on airlines, but in ensuring that existing carbon revenues are strategically reinvested to accelerate the industry’s transition to net-zero emissions.

The post IATA Urges EU to redirect carbon tax revenues to boost SAF market appeared first on 256 Business News.

A continental initiative aimed at inspiring Africa’s next generation of aerospace professionals is expanding its footprint, with the third edition of the Pathways to Space program launching in South Africa for the first time.

The program, led by the Future African Space Explorers STEM Academy (FASESA) in partnership with Boeing, will train more than 2,000 high school students aged between 13 and 18 across Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa during the 2026 cycle.

The expansion reflects growing momentum behind science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education linked to the continent’s emerging space sector.

The program is delivered in collaboration with national education and science institutions, with participating state schools selected by ministries responsible for education and science and technology in each country.

According to Henok Teferra Shawl, Boeing’s managing director for Africa, the initiative is designed to show students that careers in the space sector extend far beyond the dream of becoming astronauts.

“Almost every child dreams’ of becoming an astronaut, but the space industry offers far broader opportunities — from building satellites and spacecraft and designing hardware and software to supporting mission control, launch operations, life-support systems and on-orbit research,” Shawl said.

He noted that Africa’s rapidly growing youth population represents a significant opportunity for the global aerospace industry if that talent can be connected to real-world technical skills.

“With its young and fast-growing population, Africa holds immense untapped potential. Through Pathways to Space, we try to connect that potential with real-world skills and future opportunities in the growing space ecosystem across the continent,” he said.

The 2026 program introduces a new engineering challenge themed “The First African Spacesuit,” through which students will explore the science and design principles behind spacesuit engineering, including materials science, human factors and life-support considerations.

Participants will engage in guided design workshops and virtual sessions with aerospace professionals and former astronauts, including experts connected to NASA Johnson Space Center, private aerospace firm Final Frontier Design and several leading United States universities.

Another central component of the initiative will be a high-altitude balloon mission designed to provide students with practical exposure to payload design, atmospheric science and data analysis. The hands-on experiments are intended to simulate aspects of near-space research and satellite operations.

FASESA founder and executive director Sean Jacobs said the program has rapidly grown into one of Africa’s most influential space education initiatives.

“Pathways to Space has grown into one of Africa’s most impactful space education initiatives,” Jacobs said. “The 2026 program reflects our commitment to expanding access, strengthening technical depth and equipping young people across the continent with the skills and confidence to participate in Africa’s space future.”

Since its launch in 2024, the initiative has already reached more than 1,200 students across Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania, introducing them to space science, satellite technology and aerospace engineering.

The expansion comes at a time when space ambitions across Africa are accelerating. The African Space Agency, formally launched by the African Union in 2025, is expected to play a central role in coordinating continental space activities and strengthening collaboration between national space programs.

Several African countries are simultaneously advancing their own capabilities. Ethiopia is planning additional Earth-observation satellites to support environmental monitoring and development planning. Kenya is expanding satellite applications through the Kenya Space Agency, while Nigeria continues to strengthen remote-sensing and communications systems.

South Africa, the newest host country for the program, remains the continent’s most mature space ecosystem, with long-standing expertise in satellite engineering, space science and geospatial data applications.

For program organisers, the expansion of Pathways to Space forms part of a broader effort to cultivate the technical talent needed to sustain Africa’s growing participation in the global space economy — an industry increasingly central to telecommunications, climate monitoring, navigation and scientific research.

By bringing hands-on aerospace education into classrooms across four countries, the initiative aims to ensure that Africa’s rapidly growing youth population can play a meaningful role in shaping the continent’s space future.

The post Boeing, FASESA expand Africa space STEM program to South Africa appeared first on 256 Business News.

As organisations deploy more cameras, access control systems and automated license plate recognition tools, the data generated by physical security infrastructure is becoming both an operational asset and a growing concern.

Genetec Inc., a global provider of enterprise physical security software, has outlined a set of best practices aimed at helping organisations safeguard sensitive data without undermining the effectiveness of their security operations.

The company argues that physical security systems now produce vast streams of video footage, access logs and vehicle data that increasingly feed into investigations, compliance reporting and operational decision-making. But as reliance on this data grows, so too does regulatory scrutiny and exposure to cyber threats.

Mathieu Chevalier, principal security architect at Genetec, cautions that physical security data can be highly sensitive and should not be treated as a commercial asset to be exploited beyond its original purpose.

He warns that some market approaches risk expanding the use of collected data in ways that create privacy vulnerabilities. Instead, he says, organisations should demand clear limits on how their data is used, enforce strong lifecycle controls and adopt technologies designed to respect privacy by default.

The emphasis on “privacy by design” reflects a broader shift in corporate governance, where compliance is no longer limited to IT departments but extends to facilities management, risk teams and executive leadership.

Genetec’s first recommendation is the development of a clear and documented data protection strategy. Organisations are encouraged to regularly assess what data they collect, why it is collected, where it is stored, how long it is retained and who has access to it.

Such documentation, the company argues, reduces unnecessary data exposure and helps identify policy gaps before regulators or cybercriminals do. It also enhances transparency, an increasingly critical factor in maintaining trust among employees, customers and the public.

In many jurisdictions, evolving data protection frameworks have blurred the line between physical and digital security. Video footage and biometric identifiers, once viewed as operational tools, are now squarely within the scope of privacy regulation.

A second pillar of Genetec’s guidance focuses on designing systems with privacy controls integrated from the outset. This includes applying purpose limitation and data minimisation principles to ensure that only data necessary for defined security objectives is collected and retained.

The company recommends encrypting data both in transit and at rest, enforcing strong authentication protocols and implementing granular access controls. It also points to privacy-enhancing technologies such as automated anonymisation and masking to reduce identity exposure while preserving the operational utility of footage and records.

This approach reflects growing concern that surveillance technologies, particularly when combined with artificial intelligence, can expand beyond their intended scope if not tightly governed.

Treating cybersecurity as continuous

Genetec also frames data protection as an ongoing operational discipline rather than a one-time compliance exercise. Regular system hardening, vulnerability management and timely software updates are described as essential safeguards in a threat environment where attack vectors evolve rapidly.

The convergence of physical and cyber domains means that a breach of surveillance infrastructure can compromise not only privacy but also operational continuity. As more systems become networked, physical security teams increasingly find themselves operating within the broader cybersecurity ecosystem.

The company further highlights the role of cloud-managed and software-as-a-service deployments in strengthening resilience and compliance. Cloud environments can simplify patch management and ensure that privacy controls remain current, while also offering flexibility in balancing scalability and data residency requirements.

However, Genetec underscores that technology choices alone are insufficient. Organisations are urged to evaluate vendors based on transparent data governance practices, clearly defined limits on data use and independent security certifications such as ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 27017 and SOC 2 Type II attestations.

Vendor vulnerability disclosure processes and the ethical deployment of artificial intelligence—particularly where personal data is involved—are also identified as critical due diligence factors.

The recommendations signal a broader industry recognition that physical security can no longer be managed as a siloed operational function. As video management, access control and analytics platforms become more sophisticated and interconnected, they create expansive data ecosystems that demand robust oversight.

Founded in Montreal more than 25 years ago, Genetec serves over 42,500 customers across 159 countries, providing video management, access control and automatic license plate recognition solutions built on an open architecture.

Its latest guidance suggests that in the race to enhance security capabilities, organisations must give equal weight to the governance frameworks that protect the very people those systems are meant to secure.

The post Genetec urges privacy-by-design approach as physical security data volumes surge appeared first on 256 Business News.

As governments and operators grapple with ageing bridges, pressure vessels and energy infrastructure, a newly concluded research collaboration between TÜV Austria and Italy’s Università di Bologna is pointing to how infrastructure safety may increasingly be managed through continuous, predictive monitoring rather than periodic inspection.

The three-year PhD research programme, completed this month, brought together TÜV Austria and the University of Bologna’s Advanced Research Center on Electronic Systems (ARCES) to develop new methods in structural health monitoring that can be deployed in real-world settings. The collaboration focused on critical infrastructure assets where failure carries high economic and safety risks, including bridges, composite pressure vessels and metallic tanks.

Structural health monitoring has long promised earlier detection of damage and reduced reliance on intrusive inspections. What distinguishes the TÜV Austria–Bologna programme is its emphasis on operational applicability. Across three complementary PhD projects, academic research was continuously tested, refined and validated alongside industry experts from TÜV Austria, TÜV Austria Italia and technology partner SINT Technology.

One research track addressed the requalification of Type IV composite pressure vessels, which are increasingly used in sectors such as gas transport, industrial storage and emerging hydrogen applications. The project developed a dedicated testing and requalification framework aimed at extending service life while maintaining safety margins, an issue growing in importance as composite materials replace traditional steel vessels.

A second project focused on civil infrastructure, introducing a vibration-based methodology capable of detecting and localising structural damage in bridges. With many bridge networks in Europe and beyond operating well past their original design life, such techniques offer a pathway toward more reliable condition assessment and targeted maintenance, reducing both downtime and inspection costs.

The third research strand tackled corrosion monitoring in metallic pressure vessels, demonstrating that active corrosion processes can be detected using acoustic emission monitoring without external excitation. This approach allows for continuous monitoring during normal operation, potentially enabling earlier intervention before corrosion leads to leaks or structural failure.

According to TÜV Austria, the collaboration reflects a broader shift in infrastructure management, from time-based inspections toward condition-based and predictive maintenance regimes. Embedding PhD researchers directly into industrial testing campaigns and structured review cycles allowed theoretical advances to be stress-tested against operational constraints, accelerating the transition from laboratory results to deployable inspection solutions.

The conclusion of the programme also highlights the growing role of international academic–industry partnerships in addressing infrastructure risk. As fiscal pressures limit large-scale replacement of ageing assets, regulators and operators are increasingly looking to advanced monitoring technologies to extend asset life while maintaining safety and compliance.

While the research outcomes will continue to be refined and adopted across different sectors, the completed programme offers a clear signal of where infrastructure safety is heading. In a world of ageing bridges, expanding energy networks and rising safety expectations, the future of inspection is likely to be more about continuous insight into how structures behave in real time and less about scheduled checks.

The post New monitoring methods could reshape how Africa safeguards bridges and pressure vessels appeared first on 256 Business News.

For decades, HIV treatment has focused—necessarily—on suppressing a virus. But a landmark study from Uganda is now showing that treating the mind may be just as important as treating the body.

New research published in The Lancet HIV demonstrates that integrating structured depression care directly into routine HIV services can significantly and sustainably improve mental health outcomes for people living with HIV, even in resource-constrained health systems. The study offers one of the clearest roadmaps yet for how mental health care can be delivered at scale within existing public health services across Africa.

The hidden burden within HIV care

Depression is one of the most common—but least addressed—conditions affecting people living with HIV. In Africa, an estimated 15 per cent of adults with HIV experience depression, a condition closely linked to poorer quality of life, reduced adherence to antiretroviral therapy, faster disease progression and higher mortality.

Yet mental health services are rarely part of routine HIV care. Specialist psychiatrists and psychologists are few, clinics are overstretched, and mental health is often treated as a separate issue, if it is treated at all.

The Ugandan study challenges that separation. The research was led by Uganda’s Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Medical Research Council (UK) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. It was conducted across 40 public HIV clinics in central and southwestern Uganda using a cluster-randomised controlled trial design—one of the strongest forms of clinical evidence.

Researchers evaluated an intervention known as HIV+D, a collaborative “stepped-care” model designed specifically for low-resource settings. Rather than relying on scarce specialists, the model uses task-sharing: distributing mental health care across trained lay counsellors, HIV clinicians and, when necessary, specialist mental health workers.

Under HIV+D, adults attending HIV clinics were screened for depression and offered a structured package of care. This included psychoeducation, behavioural activation therapy, antidepressant medication prescribed by HIV clinicians, and referral to a mental health specialist for patients who did not respond or who presented with severe psychiatric symptoms.

The comparison group received enhanced usual HIV care, which included standard clinical attention but without integrated, structured depression treatment.

Clear and lasting benefits

The results were striking. Participants receiving HIV+D showed substantially greater reductions in depression severity than those in the control group. Improvements were evident as early as three months after treatment began and were sustained at 12 months—an important indicator that the benefits were not short-lived.

The intervention was particularly effective for individuals who had severe depression at the start of the study, a group that is often hardest to treat and most vulnerable to dropping out of HIV care.

Crucially, the programme proved feasible in routine clinic settings. More than 90 per cent of participants who required behavioural activation therapy completed the recommended number of sessions—suggesting that the approach can work within the constraints of busy public facilities.

Why task-sharing matters

At the heart of the study is a simple insight; mental health care does not always require specialists.

“This study shows that effective and safe depression care can be delivered directly within HIV clinics using a task-sharing approach,” said Professor Eugene Kinyanda, the study’s lead author and Head of the Mental Health Focus Area at the MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit.

In the HIV+D model, non-specialist health workers provide first-line counselling and behavioural therapy. HIV clinicians—already embedded in the system—prescribe antidepressant medication. Specialist mental health professionals are reserved for complex cases and emergencies.

“This approach is well aligned with the realities of Uganda’s public health system and similar settings,” Professor Kinyanda noted.

While the study focused on depression, its implications extend well beyond mental health. Depression undermines HIV treatment adherence, clinic attendance and self-care. By reducing depression, integrated care has the potential to improve viral suppression rates, reduce long-term complications and enhance overall quality of life for people living with HIV.

Dr Leticia Kyohangirwe, a co-author and study coordinator, emphasised the practical value of the findings. “The strength of this intervention lies not only in its effectiveness but in its practicality. It shows that meaningful mental health care can be delivered now within existing HIV systems.”

The findings strongly support long-standing calls by the World Health Organization and UNAIDS to integrate mental health into HIV services. They also align with Uganda’s National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan, which prioritises the management of co-morbidities as part of comprehensive HIV care.

For policymakers, the study moves the debate from principle to practice. “This study moves the conversation from why mental health should be integrated into HIV care to how it can be done,” said Professor Moffat Nyirenda, Director of the MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit. “It offers a practical roadmap for closing one of the most persistent gaps in HIV care.”

Because HIV+D relies on existing staff, simple therapies and stepped referrals, researchers say it is both cost-effective and scalable. The model could be adapted across sub-Saharan Africa and other low- and middle-income regions facing similar shortages of mental health professionals.

Published open access and funded by the Wellcome Trust, the study — “Assessing the effectiveness of a depression-integrated model in adult HIV care in Uganda (the HIV+D trial)”— adds to growing evidence that addressing mental health is not an optional extra in HIV care, but a core component of effective treatment.

In doing so, it reframes HIV clinics not just as places where a virus is managed, but as spaces where whole lives can be stabilised, supported and sustained.

The post Uganda study shows how treating depression can strengthen HIV care appeared first on 256 Business News.

Ugandan biotechnology company DEI Biopharma has announced a scientific breakthrough that could significantly reshape the treatment of sickle cell disease, offering new hope to millions of patients worldwide—most of whom live in Africa.

The Matugga-headquartered global biotech firm says it has developed a gene therapy platform capable of making curative treatment for sickle cell disease far more affordable and accessible than existing options. The innovation, invented by the company’s founder and chief executive Matthias Magoola, has been accepted for patenting by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder in which red blood cells become warped, leading to severe pain, infections, organ damage, and reduced life expectancy. While recent advances in gene therapy have shown the disease can be cured, the extremely high cost—often running into millions of dollars per patient—has placed these treatments beyond the reach of most people, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Uganda.

DEI Biopharma’s approach seeks to address not only the biological basis of the disease, but also the long-standing access barriers that have defined sickle cell care.

All humans are born producing foetal haemoglobin, an oxygen-carrying protein present during pregnancy and early infancy that protects red blood cells from sickling. Foetal haemoglobin production continues from early pregnancy until about six months after birth, after which the body naturally switches to adult haemoglobin.

In people with sickle cell disease, symptoms usually begin when this genetic switch malfunctions, allowing defective adult haemoglobin to replace the protective foetal form.

Rather than attempting to repair the faulty gene in each patient, DEI Biopharma’s scientists have developed a way to keep foetal haemoglobin production switched on.

Using CRISPR gene-editing technology, the platform targets a genetic “control switch” that regulates the transition from foetal to adult haemoglobin. By disabling this switch, the body continues producing the protective foetal form, preventing red blood cells from becoming rigid and distorted.

Crucially, because this genetic switch is shared by all humans, the treatment can be standardised rather than customised for individual patients.

“This invention was designed from the beginning to solve not only the biology of sickle cell disease, but also the access problem,” Magoola said. “By targeting a universal genetic switch rather than the sickle mutation itself, we can develop a single, standardised treatment that works for all patients.”

Current curative approaches for sickle cell disease often rely on bone marrow transplants or highly personalised gene therapies that require donor matching, complex laboratory processes, and specialised medical facilities—requirements that make them impractical in most countries where the disease burden is highest.

DEI Biopharma says its platform removes many of these barriers. The same gene-editing product could be manufactured at scale, stored, distributed, and administered across diverse populations and health systems.

The company estimates that the approach could reduce the cost of gene therapy for sickle cell disease by more than 95 percent, potentially placing curative treatment within reach of public health systems in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.

By focusing on a shared genetic mechanism, the therapy could be applied across all major forms of the disease, including HbSS, HbSC, and sickle beta-thalassemia.

“This opens the door to what could become the first scalable, broadly applicable gene therapy for a single-gene disease,” Magoola said.

Sickle cell disease affects an estimated 20 million people globally, with the vast majority living in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet most advanced treatments have historically been developed for high-income markets, reinforcing global health inequalities.

DEI Biopharma describes its innovation as a new model for gene therapy, borrowing from the logic of generic medicines—where standardised products enable scale, lower costs, and wider access once regulatory approvals are secured.

“Sickle cell disease disproportionately affects populations that have historically been last to benefit from medical innovation,” Magoola said. “Our objective is to reverse that pattern by making advanced gene therapies manufacturable and affordable at global scale.”

The patent covers the gene-editing tools, delivery methods, and therapeutic processes required to activate fetal haemoglobin. The company is currently conducting preclinical studies to assess safety, durability, and effectiveness ahead of human clinical trials.

DEI Biopharma says it plans to work closely with regulators, research institutions, and strategic partners as it advances the platform toward clinical development.

For Magoola, the breakthrough reflects a broader ambition to ensure that cutting-edge biological medicines are not reserved for a small share of the world’s population.

“Our commitment has always been to make advanced biological drugs accessible to the more than 90 percent of people who currently cannot afford them,” he said. “This innovation brings that goal closer to reality.”

The post Uganda’s DEI Biopharma gene therapy breakthrough could transform sickle cell treatment appeared first on 256 Business News.

As African organisations accelerate their adoption of artificial intelligence, the real competitive divide is no longer access to technology but the ability to build the skills, governance and operating models needed to scale AI responsibly, according to KPMG.

Speaking at the release of the Global Tech Report 2026, KPMG One Africa Partner and Technology and Innovation Lead Marshal Luusa said the continent is entering what the firm describes as the Intelligence Age, where leadership will be defined by execution rather than experimentation.

“As Africa enters the Intelligence Age, the differentiator is no longer access to technology, but the ability to build the skills, governance and operating models required to scale it responsibly,” Luusa said. “Those that invest early in digital skills, human–AI collaboration and adaptive leadership will be best positioned to translate innovation into sustainable commercial and economic impact.”

Luusa’s remarks frame a central conclusion of the report: while ambition around AI is rising rapidly across African and global enterprises alike, many organisations are struggling to convert that ambition into consistent returns.

Released on January 27, the report is based on a survey of 2,500 executives across 27 countries, including significant representation from Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It finds that 68 percent of organisations globally aim to reach the highest level of AI maturity by the end of 2026, yet only 24 percent have achieved that benchmark today.

Although 74 percent of respondents say their AI initiatives are delivering business value, just a quarter report consistent returns across multiple use cases, highlighting a widening execution gap as adoption scales.

The findings suggest organisations are no longer debating whether to adopt AI, but how to embed it deeply into core operations while managing complexity, talent shortages and uneven returns on investment.

According to Guy Holland, Global Leader for KPMG’s CIO Center of Excellence, many companies are moving beyond what he describes as “AI roulette”, where organisations place scattered bets across emerging technologies without a clear path to value.

“The future belongs to leaders who turn intelligence into advantage,” Holland said. “High performers are not just adopting AI faster; they are executing better. When ambition meets disciplined execution, value compounds.”

The report identifies a clear performance divide. Organisations classified as high performers — those leading in technology maturity, operational processes and value creation — reported average returns of 4.5 times their investment, more than double the industry average. These firms have largely moved beyond pilot programmes, focusing instead on scaling innovation across the enterprise while continuously adapting their operating models.

Smaller firms, transformation-led organisations and companies facing fewer cost pressures also reported stronger returns, suggesting that flexibility and strategic focus matter as much as scale. Rather than a single investment sweet spot, KPMG points to the emergence of distinct “ROI zones”, ranging from early quick wins to enterprise-wide value creation as AI maturity increases.

Agentic AI — autonomous digital agents capable of executing tasks and making decisions with minimal human intervention — has emerged as a central pillar of enterprise strategies. Eighty-eight percent of surveyed organisations say they are already investing in agentic AI, reflecting expectations that such systems will fundamentally reshape operations, decision-making and service delivery.

Despite this momentum, the report warns that technology alone will not deliver sustained value. Talent constraints remain a critical bottleneck, with more than half of organisations reporting that they lack the skills needed to fully implement their digital transformation agendas.

Even as AI adoption accelerates, companies expect 42 percent of their technology workforce to remain permanent human staff by 2027. High-performing organisations plan to retain an even larger share, underscoring the importance of effective human–AI collaboration rather than workforce replacement.

Luusa said the findings carry particular relevance for African organisations as digital transformation gathers pace across the continent.

“Success in the Intelligence Age will depend less on replacing people and more on enabling skills, leadership and workforce readiness,” he said. “Those who get this balance right will be better positioned to convert innovation into long-term economic value.”

Partnerships and ecosystems are emerging as another defining feature of successful strategies. Ninety percent of organisations plan to expand their technology partnerships over the next year, while nearly a third of tech leaders intend to increase investment in centres of excellence to support controlled experimentation and cross-functional collaboration.

Looking ahead, the report finds that technology leaders are increasingly willing to take calculated risks on emerging frontiers such as quantum computing and artificial superintelligence. Seventy-eight percent of respondents agree that greater risk-taking will be necessary to remain competitive, even as concerns around ethics, governance and resilience intensify.

KPMG concludes that organisations able to balance ambition with disciplined execution, ethical foresight and workforce development will be best positioned to turn disruption into durable value. Those that fail to close the gap between aspiration and capability risk being overtaken, not by technology itself, but by competitors who deploy it more effectively.

The post KPMG flags widening execution gap as tech leaders bet on AI maturity, talent and partnerships appeared first on 256 Business News.