National Commission on Research, Science and Technology - NCRST

Call for Applications: Falling Walls Lab Namibia 2026

Are you a student, early-career researcher or innovator with a breakthrough idea?
Falling Walls Lab is a global pitch competition that brings together emerging talents from all disciplines to present their innovative ideas in just three minutes.

Participants gain the opportunity to connect with peers, receive feedback from experts in academia, business and society, and showcase solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

The winner of Falling Walls Lab Namibia will earn a place at the Global Finale in Berlin on 6 November 2026 and attend the prestigious Falling Walls Science Summit, where leading scientists, innovators and policymakers gather from around the world.

Falling Walls Lab Namibia, hosted by DAAD and supported by NCRST, will take place in Windhoek on 25 August 2026.

Application Deadline: Saturday, 25 July 2026

Apply now: https://falling-walls.com/lab/apply

QUESTIONS
[email protected]

NCRST ASSESSES EXCURSION SITES AHEAD OF THE SGCI ALL PARTNERS FORUM

During the week ending 13 June 2026, the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST), together with representatives from the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), conducted a preliminary assessment of potential excursion sites for delegates attending the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) All Partners Forum later this year.

The assessment included visits to the Dâures Green Hydrogen Village, the Sam Nujoma Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre (SANUMARC) and other sites of scientific and research significance in the Erongo Region.

The site visits formed part of NCRST’s preparations for the Forum and provided an opportunity to assess locations that showcase Namibia’s strengths in research, innovation, sustainability and scientific development.

The SGCI All Partners Forum will be hosted in Windhoek in September 2026 and will bring together representatives from science granting councils and partner organisations from across Africa and beyond.

Fathers play an important role in fostering confidence and curiosity in young minds.
Today we celebrate their contribution to building a culture that values education, research and innovation—key drivers of Namibia’s sustainable development.

The impact of emerging technologies on science systems around the world

This short survey is part of the ISC's Science Systems Futures project, funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Your responses will inform a co-authored report on the implications of emerging technologies for science systems in the Global South, as well as a writing workshop to be held in Paris in July 2026.

The survey should take approximately 10–15 minutes to complete. All responses are confidential and will be used in aggregate.

Deadline: Monday 22 June 2026

Click the link below to complete the survey:

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=E-RWk4xCj0O_vP0b-HJfjyOmbUgx_N9LjPodZRUBRtdUNUlPOFdMRjNGMkZJQTBXWURWSzRIODFOMS4u&route=shorturl

Background

This survey is part of the ISC’s Science Systems Futures project, a multi-year initiative funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) that examines how emerging technologies are reshaping science systems, with a particular focus on the Global South. The project brings together scientists, science policymakers, funding bodies, and industry actors from across the ISC’s global network to explore how these technologies are changing the way science is conducted, funded, and governed, and what this means for science as a global public good.

The project will culminate in a co-authored report developed by a group of experts meeting in Paris in July 2026.

About the survey

This survey is one of the primary mechanisms through which the Science Systems Futures project is gathering perspectives from across the global science community. It is open to all ISC Members and their networks, and to anyone working in or alongside science systems in the Global South.

Meet Namibia's top six mathematics champions set to represent the nation on the continental stage!

Six learners from the Namibia Mathematics Olympiad 2025 have been selected to represent Namibia at the 2026 Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO), taking place from 26 June to 4 July 2026 in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire.

Their outstanding performance in the national competition earned them the opportunity to compete alongside learners from across Africa.

This initiative is hosted and led by the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST), with support from the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC), the University of Namibia (UNAM), and the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). It is sponsored by the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) and the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport).

Opportunity for African Women Scientists

The Women for Africa Foundation has launched the 12th edition of the Science by Women programme, offering African women researchers the opportunity to undertake a six-month postdoctoral fellowship at leading research centres in Spain.

Who is it aimed at?

Women who are citizens of and reside in an African country, hold a PhD in a scientific field and have a current or recent contractual affiliation with an African university or research organisation.

What does the programme offer?

- A six-month postdoctoral fellowship at a centre of research excellence in Spain
- A monthly stipend covering accommodation, living expenses and insurance
- Round-trip flights
- Assistance with visa fees
- Access to mentoring, training opportunities and the N.O.W. is Africa Network

Since its inception, the programme has supported more than 190 women scientists from 38 African countries, strengthening scientific leadership and collaboration across the continent.

What is the application deadline?

Tuesday, 30 June 2026. All applications must be submitted in English through the programme's online application platform.

How to contact?

For enquiries not addressed in the guidelines, contact: [email protected]

For more information and applications:
https://mujeresporafrica.es/12th-edition-science-by-women/

Terms and conditions:
https://mujeresporafrica.es/science-by-women-convocatoria/

Empowering young minds with access to science, technology and innovation is essential to building a future-ready Namibia and a knowledge-driven Africa.

Today, we celebrate the potential, creativity and resilience of African children. By strengthening education systems, supporting research and promoting innovation from an early age, we can nurture the next generation of scientists, thinkers and problem-solvers
who will shape the continent’s future.

NCRST wishes our colleague, Dr Mungeyi, the very best as he takes on the 85.77 km Comrades Marathon.

NCRST co-hosts Provocations on Current Debates on AI in Namibia

On 9 June 2026, the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST), in partnership with the Windhoek ACM SIGCHI Chapter, hosted Provocations on Current Debates on AI in Namibia. The event brought together researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers and technology enthusiasts to explore what human-centred AI means and looks like in the Namibian context.

The discussion covered a broad range of topics, including AI-driven innovation, research, incubation and entrepreneurship, emerging AI models, governance and regulation. Participants examined both the opportunities and risks associated with AI, with particular attention given to ethics, privacy, bias, misinformation and the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies.

NCRST CEO, Prof. Dr Anicia Peters, participated in the provocations. She highlighted emerging trends, opportunities and challenges, with a strong focus on Namibia’s AI journey and the importance of building local capacity, strengthening research and fostering innovation.

The discussions reinforced the importance of collaboration among academia, industry, government and civil society to ensure that AI development remains inclusive, ethical and human-centred. Participants also reflected on the need for appropriate regulatory frameworks, investment in research and innovation and the development of digital skills to support Namibia’s evolving AI ecosystem.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the engaging and thought-provoking discussions. The event provided an important platform for dialogue and knowledge sharing as Namibia continues to shape a responsible and inclusive AI future.

NCRST CEO PROF. DR ANICIA PETERS REFLECTS ON GLOBAL RESEARCH COUNCIL APPOINTMENT

National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Dr Anicia Peters, reflects on her appointment to the Governing Board of the Global Research Council, where she will represent Sub-Saharan Africa from 2026 to 2029.

In this interview, she shares what this significant milestone means for Namibia’s research and innovation landscape, the broader Sub-Saharan African region and the opportunities it presents for strengthening Africa’s voice in global research and science policy discussions.

Watch the full interview here, courtesy of the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC): https://youtu.be/CM0mBHRl3Ac

THE DAILY ROUNDUP WITH NINA | PROF. ANICIA PETERS JOINS GLOBAL RESEARCH COUNCIL - nbc Namibia's research and innovation landscape has received internatio...