Windhoek:The National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) has officially launched the country's National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute. This new establishment will focus on research, software development, innovation, and data.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the NCRST Chief Executive Officer, Professor Anicia Peters, explained that the institute's Software Development Centre aims to offer project-based training and a monthly allowance to unemployed young people, including those without university qualifications. Participants will receive boot camp training while working on government projects and could later join the industry or the institute's AI Innovation Centre.

The institute plans to utilize existing high-performance computing infrastructure at the University of Namibia and the Namibia University of Science and Technology, rather than setting up new data centres. Peters highlighted the establishment of two HPCs at these universities as national infrastructure and emphasized plans to enhance them further.

NCRST has also opened a research grant call for AI applications in areas such as food security and energy, with the deadline set for Friday, 25 September. This follows previous grants that supported AI research in water, energy, and health sectors. A national AI strategy, developed with regional input and partly funded by UNESCO, is under ministerial review and will be submitted to Cabinet. This strategy will pave the way for a national AI policy and legislation.

The institute already hosts two full-time postgraduate students and has partnered on the AI Ready Youth Fellowship training programme, which has filled 500 of its 2,000 available spaces. NCRST software developer Paulina Shifugula, motivated by the rapid development of AI and a shortage of local expertise, pursued postgraduate studies in AI to train fellow young Namibians and ensure they keep pace with global advancements.