Indaba is the largest and most significant annual African event convening mining industry professionals alongside academic, research, and non-profit sectors to address challenges and opportunities in sustainable exploration, extraction, and utilization of mineral resources across Africa.

Following a series of strategic discussions between the China Africa Development Fund (CADF) and DDE before, during, and after DDE's participation at CAG30 in Nairobi, Kenya (see: DDE at CAG - DDE World) in September 2025, DDE leadership made a strategic decision to participate in Indaba 2026, held in Cape Town, South Africa, from February 9th to 12th, 2026.

Professor Shuzhong Shen, Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Nanjing University and Director of the Suzhou Center hosting the DDE Secretariat in Kunshan City, Suzhou, China, led the DDE delegation comprising: Dr. Natarajan Ishwaran, Director of International Promotion and Secretary General; Dr. Li Chao, Head of Science Operations; and Mr. Juxin Shen, Head of International Relations. The delegation was further strengthened by a team from Nanjing University led by Dean Professor Tianyu Chen, accompanied by two vice-deans and an expert on metal ores, as well as Dr. Song Yang from the Chinese Geological Survey, demonstrating the breadth of institutional commitment to advancing DDE's Africa engagement.

DDE's dedicated exhibition booth at Indaba 2026 attracted significant interest from numerous visitors seeking information about DDE activities, products, and services, particularly during the peak of attendance days of February 9th and 10th. The booth effectively showcased DDE's technological capabilities, including the comprehensive DDE Platform and GeoGPT, developed collaboratively by Zhejiang Lab. Tangible outcomes of DDE-funded research were prominently displayed, notably the world's first 1:5M digital geological map of the world. Informational materials distributed included DDE introductions, the Strategic Framework for 2025-2028, details of financial support available for multiple project categories, information regarding the establishment of DDE Fellowship Fund, and announcements concerning the forthcoming agreement between DDE and CADF, generating considerable enthusiasm among potential African partners.

Prof. Shuzhong Shen, Dr. Natarajan Ishwaran and colleagues from Nanjing University at the DDE booth in Indaba 2026.

On the afternoon of February 9th, 2026, Professor Shen, Dr. Ishwaran, and Dr. Li Chao held high-level exploratory talks with Dr. Mmboneni Muofhe, Deputy Director, and Ms. Candice Coleman of the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of South Africa. Discussions focused on identifying concrete areas for scientific and technical collaboration, building upon the framework agreement signed in 2025 between South Africa's Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and China's Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). Dr. Muofhe and Ms. Coleman committed to initiating follow-up consultations with the DDE Secretariat to develop a roadmap for operationalizing this collaborative framework, opening significant opportunities for joint research initiatives, capacity building, and knowledge exchange between DDE and South African scientific institutions.

Dr. Mmboneni Muofhe and Ms. Coleman of the Department of Science and Technology, South Africa with Prof. Shuzhong Shen and Dr. Ishwaran of DDE, and Prof. Tianyu Chen, Dean of School of Earth Sciences and Engineering of Nanjing University.

From 11:30 to 13:00 on February 10th, 2026, DDE and CADF jointly convened a highly successful technical session attracting approximately 50 participants from across the Indaba attendee community. Dr. Ishwaran skillfully chaired the session, which commenced with opening remarks from Professor Shuzhong Shen on behalf of DDE, Professor Tianyu Chen of Nanjing University, and Mr. Fengxue Song, Executive Director of the Mining Investment Department at CADF. Dr. Ishwaran then provided a comprehensive overview of DDE's evolution and implementation progress since its inception in 2019, highlighting its global scientific contributions and future directions.

A landmark moment followed with the formal signing of a collaborative agreement between DDE and CADF establishing an open, inclusive framework for partnership on Geoscience Data and AI for Sustainable Development in Africa. This landmark initiative invites all interested African institutions to actively participate and contribute, representing a significant step toward democratizing access to cutting-edge geoscience technologies and data resources across the continent.

Prof. Shuzhong Shen representing DDE and Mr. Fenghue Song, Executive Director of CADF for Mining Investment signing an agreement to establish an open framework for collaboration between DDE and interested African partners on Geosciences Data and AI for Sustainable Development in Africa.

Professor Shen subsequently presented DDE's ambitious plans to finance at least three distinct categories of research projects and include DDE fellowship fund commencing in 2026, signaling DDE's long-term commitment to building African scientific capacity. Professor Shen announced that calls for project proposals and fellowship applications would be released within the coming weeks, generating considerable interest among potential applicants.

The session continued with Dr. Ishwaran introducing GeoGPT's transformative potential for geoscience research and education. Professor Rongqing Zhang of Nanjing University presented compelling findings from mineral resources research across Africa, while Dr. Song Yang of the China Geological Survey outlined future possibilities for comprehensive mapping of African geological resources using advanced technologies, demonstrating the practical applications of DDE-supported research.

In his concluding remarks, Dr. Ishwaran encouraged all attendees to monitor the DDE website (www.ddeworld.org) for forthcoming calls for project proposals and fellowship applications. He expressed strong optimism that the professional networks and collaborative relationships established during the technical session would catalyze enhanced partnerships between African institutions and DDE, advancing shared goals in research, education, training, and sustainable development through innovative applications of Geoscience Data and AI across Africa.

Throughout Indaba 2026, DDE representatives actively participated in numerous technical sessions and panel discussions, gaining valuable insights into current industry trends and research priorities. Notably, attendance at the "partnering with China" session highlighted significant Chinese engineering and technological contributions modernizing African mineral industry logistics and operations. Participation in panels such as "digital evolution of blasting in mining" provided strategic intelligence on potential research themes aligned with DDE's scientific program on sustainable development of earth resources, informing future project development priorities.

Following Indaba 2026, Professor Shuzhong Shen, Dr. Li Chao, and Mr. Juxin Shen undertook a strategic visit to the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Professor Shen held substantive discussions with Dr. Mahaman Bachir Saley, who oversees water and natural resources initiatives under the AU's Commission on Education, Science, Technology and Innovation. Their forward-looking dialogue explored concrete mechanisms for DDE to contribute meaningfully to AU geoscience education and research initiatives through innovative technological approaches including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big-data analytics. Both leaders committed to sustained communications to develop a framework for collaboration that leverages DDE's technological capabilities to advance AU's continental priorities.

Prof. Shuzhong Shen and Dr. Mahaman Bachir Saley exchange views on potential areas of collaboration between DDE and the work of the AU's Commission on Education, Science, Technology and Innovation.

DDE's strategic participation in Indaba 2026, complemented by high-level engagements with South African government officials and African Union leadership, has yielded transformative insights into the critical importance of building robust, equitable partnerships with Africa's premier research, academic, industry, and development institutions. This landmark engagement has positioned DDE to significantly enhance opportunities for African scientists to actively contribute to and benefit from implementation of the DDE Strategic Framework for 2025-2028, fostering a truly global and inclusive geoscience community dedicated to sustainable development. The momentum generated through these interactions will guide DDE's strategic investments and partnership development across the African continent in the years ahead.