The event was organized by the European Commission (Directorate General, Information Society and Media, DG INFSO) with the support of the African Union Commission (AUC) and the EU EuroAfrica-ICT project (of which TWAS is a partner).
In her opening presentation, Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for DG INFSO, affirmed that the EU was looking forward "to working with everyone, in Africa and the EU, on ICT policy and research."
Vera Brenda Ngosi, Director, Directorate of Human Resources, Science and Technology, African Union Commission, added that: "We are opening a new chapter and Africans are ready to work shoulder to shoulder with our European partners."