Africa: Technology

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the fiduciary and corporate services industries. Automation is increasingly being used across a growing number of processes - this shift is not just on the horizon, it is visible today.

In today’s business world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly important technological tool. Recent advances in AI applications and technology advancement have contributed significantly to its growing popularity and adoption across different sectors. Therefore, the advancement of technology now enables computer systems and other machines to perform tasks that traditionally require human intelligence and participation.

Eight Ghanaian research-industry partnerships have been awarded €2 million in grants to advance vaccine and pharmaceutical R&D, including malaria treatments and AI-assisted antibody discovery. The PharmaVax Ghana programme aims to translate research into locally manufactured health products, with IP protection and technology transfer playing key roles in commercializing innovations for Ghana and regional markets.

The European Union is fundamentally reshaping how it regulates space infrastructure, moving beyond viewing it as merely a commercial or scientific endeavor to treating it as critical digital infrastructure essential to modern economies.

The EU's Cyber Resilience Act introduces mandatory vulnerability and incident reporting obligations for manufacturers of digital products starting 11 September 2026, well before the broader regulatory framework takes effect. Manufacturers must navigate tight reporting deadlines, determine when they become "aware" of security events, and establish governance structures to comply with 24-hour early warnings and subsequent detailed notifications through a platform that is not yet operational.

Starting September 11, 2026, manufacturers of digital products in the EU must report cybersecurity vulnerabilities and incidents within strict 24-hour and 72-hour deadlines under the new Cyber Resilience Act. Companies face penalties up to €15 million or 2.5% of global turnover for non-compliance, requiring immediate preparation of incident response procedures and assessment of product portfolios to meet these unprecedented product-focused cybersecurity obligations.

Nigeria's Securities and Exchange Commission has released comprehensive proposed rules governing digital and virtual asset operations, introducing distinct regulatory categories for exchanges, custodians, and tokenisation platforms. The framework establishes capital requirements ranging from ₦200 million to ₦2 billion, detailed stablecoin reserve requirements, and enhanced investor protection measures across the digital asset value chain. Businesses operating in Nigeria's digital asset ecosystem

FinXP, a European payment infrastructure provider, has joined forces with Thredd, a global issuer-processing platform, to enhance its card issuing capabilities and expand its embedded finance offering. The partnership will enable FinXP to modernize its debit card programmes with advanced processing infrastructure while maintaining control of its own ledger and programme strategy. This collaboration also positions FinXP as a European BIN sponsor for Thredd's global client base, supporting scalable, multi-reg

South Africa's most significant transactions reveal a fundamental shift in how strategic assets are valued and controlled. From Pepkor's fintech consolidation to Anglo American's De Beers sale, buyers are pursuing established market positions, but regulatory conditions and competitive constraints are limiting how freely these acquired platforms can be deployed.