The Centre is a nationally owned institution that the Department of Digital Communications and Technologies and ITU have been cooperating to design under a project funded by the Republic of South Africa (project 9SAF19004). While nationally anchored, the Centre has regional ambitions to serve and collaborate with African countries.

The Centre will join the network of ITU Acceleration Centres once it becomes operational. This will enhance cooperation between countries hosting similar centres under the framework of the Innovation Alliance.

The Centre is anchored in supporting key national policy instruments, including the National Digital Economy Masterplan, the Draft National AI Policy Framework, Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) initiatives, and broader alignment with the African Union Digital Transformation Strategy (2020–2030). It aims to strengthen South Africa’s leadership in digital transformation while fostering regional collaboration.

No. This is a South Africa-owned Centre with regional ambition. ITU’s role has been to support its design and provide technical assistance in developing its capabilities, based on the project and cooperation agreement signed for this purpose.

Yes. It is the intention of the host institution to join the network of ITU Acceleration Centres, allowing it to operate under the framework of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development.

The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development (the Alliance) is a global initiative led by the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It supports countries in navigating the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly evolving technological and global landscape.

The expected outcome of the Alliance is to strengthen the capacity of the ITU membership to integrate telecommunication/ICT innovation and digitalization in their national development agendas and to develop strategies to promote innovation initiatives, including through public, private, and public-private partnerships.

The Alliance operates through three core mechanisms:

• The Digital Innovation Board provides strategic guidance, ensuring the Alliance remains aligned with the ITU-D Priorities and Action Plans. It engages in high-level advocacy and tracks progress monitoring across key ITU-D Priorities. The Board is supported by a dedicated Expert Network that provides specialized expertise and advice across relevant themes.
• The Digital Transformation Lab is a virtual facility for building innovation capabilities. It develops knowledge programmes and supports the design and capacitation of ITU Acceleration Centres.
• The Network of ITU Acceleration Centres enhances global, regional, and national innovation ecosystems. It supports countries in leveraging technology, policy, and flagship initiatives while integrating ICT innovation into national development agendas and fostering entrepreneurship that accelerates digital transformation.

Each ITU Acceleration Centre is nationally owned and aligned with national development priorities. Its strategic focus is shaped by its local context, available resources, and ecosystem needs. While some centres may choose to specialize in a particular thematic area, others may remain sector- or technology-agnostic in their service delivery to remain flexible and responsive.

The ITU Acceleration Centre is a programme framework that institutions can adopt and implement. The name of the host centre is a national decision, and ITU does not determine the naming. However, once the host centre signs a cooperation agreement to become an ITU Acceleration Centre, it may adopt the ITU Acceleration Centre programme brand alongside its own institutional brand.

The ATDC will act as a convener, bringing together stakeholders to connect, align efforts, and co-create solutions that advance ecosystem goals. The core mandate is to identify and address systemic gaps within innovation ecosystems, thereby strengthening collective capacity for digital development.

To advance digital transformation, the Centre will deliver products and services across five key categories, each aligned with the five strategic objectives of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development and in line with the mandate of the Centre:

The Expert Network is an expertise-driven collaborative community that facilitates access to knowledge, tools, peer learning, and opportunities for collaboration and joint action. It brings together experts from across South Africa and beyond to share knowledge, connect, and collaborate on key areas important to the Centre.

The potential beneficiaries of the ATDC are:

• Government ministries, agencies, and regulators (national and local)
• Development partners, donors, and multilateral organizations
• Private sector companies, industry leaders, and investors
• Startups, SMEs, and entrepreneurs
• Innovation hubs, accelerators, and incubators
• Universities and research institutions
• Communities and project beneficiaries

The main objective of the Centre is to act as an ecosystem orchestrator by facilitating connections between different actors. Its service portfolio is defined by key strategies and playbooks that enable the co-design of projects, policies, and initiatives with the broader ecosystem. This approach does not create a competing service; rather, it seeks to amplify and support the work of others where relevant.

The private sector is an equal and very important partner for the Centre. Through the Centre’s capabilities and orchestration model, organizations can co-design initiatives, access spaces for digital policy experimentation, and contribute to cross-sectoral and cross-border impact.

The Centre has been actively seeking partnerships at both the national and provincial government levels, as well as with universities and other entities with areas of mutual interest. These partnerships are ongoing and are developed through co-creation with interested parties. Some partnerships are already in place and will be announced soon, while others are currently under development.

The Centre is also developing partnerships with several organizations globally through various mechanisms such as Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), joint initiatives, and other collaboration models. Interested stakeholders are welcome to contact the Centre to explore partnership opportunities.