Held from May 18 to 21 in Rwanda’s capital, the summit brought together African leaders, policymakers, energy experts, and international nuclear industry stakeholders to discuss the future of nuclear power on the continent.
At the centre of Rosatom’s participation was its promotion of small modular reactors and floating nuclear technologies, which the company says are particularly suited for remote regions and developing economies with rising energy demand.
The Russian corporation highlighted its operational experience in the SMR segment, including the Akademik Lomonosov, the world’s first floating nuclear power plant commissioned in Russia in 2020. Rosatom also pointed to its first export SMR project currently under implementation in Uzbekistan since 2024 as evidence that the technology is commercially viable and deployment-ready.
Beyond small-scale technologies, Rosatom used the Kigali summit to demonstrate its broader experience in delivering large-scale nuclear infrastructure projects worldwide. The company says it is currently constructing 22 export nuclear power units globally, making it one of the leading players in the international nuclear energy market.
In Africa, Rosatom’s flagship project remains Egypt’s El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, where construction is ongoing on all four units simultaneously. The project is considered the largest nuclear construction initiative currently underway on the continent.
Rosatom’s exhibition booth was visited by several high-profile leaders attending the summit, including Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Togolese Prime Minister Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.
During the summit’s business sessions, Rosatom representatives outlined the company’s strategy for expanding nuclear cooperation across Africa, with discussions focusing on practical deployment of SMRs, advanced nuclear technologies, and long-term industry development.
The summit also provided an opportunity for Russia and Rwanda to discuss next steps related to potential SMR projects and the planned Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology (CNS&T).
“The Rwanda Atomic Energy Board sincerely appreciates Rosatom’s participation in Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit 2026 and the continued collaboration in advancing nuclear energy development in Rwanda,” said Dr. Fidele Ndahayo, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board.
Ryan Collyer, CEO of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa, said small modular reactors could offer African countries flexible and scalable energy solutions capable of supporting industrialisation while reducing carbon emissions.
“For many African countries, small modular reactors can become an optimal solution due to their scalability, flexibility of use, and relatively short deployment timelines,” Collyer said.
Rosatom also used the summit to highlight its human capital development programmes aimed at supporting national nuclear industries across Africa. The company showcased partnerships with Rwanda that have already enabled more than 100 students to participate in nuclear-related training programmes, including studies at Russian universities.
Some graduates of these programmes are already working in Rwandan institutions involved in developing the country’s nuclear sector.
By combining technology transfer, infrastructure development, and workforce training, Rosatom is increasingly positioning itself as a long-term strategic partner for African countries pursuing nuclear energy as part of their future power mix.
Rosatom’s exhibition booth was visited by several high-profile leaders attending the summit, including Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Togolese Prime Minister Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.
The San Francisco-based company announced the funding round on Thursday, saying the investment would help it meet growing global demand for its AI technologies and expand deployment of its flagship assistant, Claude.
The latest valuation places Anthropic ahead of OpenAI, whose most recently reported valuation stood at about $852 billion following a major fundraising round earlier this year. Anthropic also reported annualized revenues of $47 billion, driven largely by businesses and organizations using Claude for coding, research, and workplace automation.
Founded in 2021 by former OpenAI executives, Anthropic has rapidly emerged as one of the leading firms in the increasingly competitive global AI industry. The company also unveiled a new AI model, Claude Opus 4.8, which it says delivers improved performance in coding and professional tasks.
The funding round was led by investment firms including Altimeter Capital, Dragoneer Investment Group, Greenoaks Capital, and Sequoia Capital.
“This funding will help us serve the historic demand we are experiencing, stay at the research frontier, and bring Claude to more of the places where work happens,” Anthropic chief financial officer Krishna Rao said in a statement.
Anthropic’s rise comes as countries around the world race to integrate artificial intelligence into critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and public services.
In Rwanda, the company signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Rwanda in February to support the responsible use of AI in health, education, and public sector service delivery.
The partnership includes plans to strengthen AI capacity within government institutions, support health initiatives such as cervical cancer elimination and malaria reduction, and expand AI-powered learning tools for educators and public servants.
Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, Hon. Paula Ingabire, described the partnership as “an important step in Rwanda’s AI journey,” emphasizing the country’s focus on deploying AI solutions that align with local priorities and public needs.
The San Francisco-based company announced the funding round on Thursday, saying the investment would help it meet growing global demand for its AI technologies and expand deployment of its flagship assistant, Claude.
The launch summit, held at the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC), brought together senior government officials, enterprise leaders, global technology partners, and members of Rwanda’s innovation ecosystem to discuss the future of AI-driven transformation in Africa.
The event marked a major milestone in Visiontech’s African expansion strategy, with Rwanda as its launchpad.
Speaking during the summit, Visiontech PLG Chief Executive Officer Aliasgar Dohadwala said the company’s decision to establish operations in Rwanda was driven by the country’s strong leadership, progressive digital vision, and growing reputation as a regional technology hub.
“We are living in a defining moment where artificial intelligence and intelligent operations are becoming central to everything nations and organisations do,” Dohadwala said. “Visiontech comes with a clear mission, to become Rwanda’s trusted digital and AI partner and help build resilient technology systems that create real impact.”
Visiontech PLG CEO Aliasgar Dohadwala said Rwanda was chosen for its strong leadership, progressive digital vision, and rising status as a regional technology hub.
Founded in Dubai in 2003, Visiontech Systems International LLC has expanded across more than 17 countries, delivering digital transformation projects in sectors including healthcare, education, defence, oil and gas, and government services.
The company said Rwanda will serve as its strategic operational base for expansion into Central, East, and West Africa.
During the summit, Dohadwala announced plans to establish a Centre of Excellence and demonstration centre in Rwanda aimed at developing local technical capacity, showcasing AI and cybersecurity solutions, and supporting regional knowledge sharing.
He said Visiontech’s long-term focus in Rwanda would include AI-powered public services, intelligent government systems, cybersecurity infrastructure, real-time monitoring solutions, predictive analytics, and secure digital platforms designed to protect national data and strengthen digital sovereignty.
“Digital sovereignty is now a critical priority for every country,” he remarked. “Your data and information must be protected and managed in ways that serve national interests.”
The launch summit was held at the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC).
The launch received strong backing from the Government of Rwanda, with Minister of State for ICT and Innovation Yves Iradukunda describing Visiontech as an important strategic partner in Rwanda’s digital transformation journey.
Addressing participants at the summit, Iradukunda said Rwanda’s investments in connectivity, digital infrastructure, and inclusive technology adoption were designed to improve service delivery and position the country for the next phase of AI-driven growth.
“At the dawn of the AI era, the demands on our infrastructure are growing rapidly,” he stated. “To achieve true digital sovereignty, we must be able to develop, train, and run AI models right here at home.”
Minister of State for ICT and Innovation Yves Iradukunda described Visiontech as an important strategic partner in Rwanda’s digital transformation journey.
He added that Rwanda continues to strengthen its digital ecosystem through resilient infrastructure, interoperable API platforms, cybersecurity frameworks, and expanded digital access across the country.
According to the minister, Rwanda now has more than 95 percent 4G coverage and offers over 250 government services online.
Rwanda Development Board (RDB) Deputy CEO Juliana Muganza welcomed Visiontech PLG’s entry, describing it as a strong signal of investor confidence in Rwanda’s technology ecosystem.
“For us at RDB, when companies like Visiontech come, explore, register, and establish operations here, it is a huge success,” she noted.
She emphasised Rwanda’s goal of becoming the easiest and most coordinated market in Africa for technology and innovation investors, supported by a stable regulatory environment, strong public-private coordination, and robust digital infrastructure.
“Our job is to help investors identify opportunities, translate them into projects, and support them to scale regionally and continentally,” she added.
RDB Deputy CEO Juliana Muganza welcomed Visiontech PLG’s entry, describing it as a strong signal of investor confidence in Rwanda’s technology ecosystem.
Juliana also noted that Rwanda attracted approximately $870 million in foreign direct investment last year, with ICT and ICT-enabled services playing a growing role in that performance.
The summit also featured panellists from Hitachi, Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), Irembo, and Visiontech PLG, who highlighted Rwanda’s progress in delivering seamless digital services while exploring how resilience and intelligent infrastructure will power the next phase of national digital transformation.
The summit also highlighted Visiontech’s partnerships with several global technology firms expected to support Rwanda’s growing digital economy.
Canadian telecommunications company Mitel, cybersecurity firm Sophos, Hitachi Vantara, and cybersecurity solutions provider Netviss all reaffirmed their collaboration with Visiontech during the event.
Narayan G, Business Head for Asia Pacific, Middle East, Turkey and Africa at Mitel, described Rwanda as one of Africa’s most promising digital economies.
“Rwanda is far ahead of many markets in terms of digital adoption,” he said. “We want to be part of Rwanda’s growth story, which is set to become a world-class success.”
The event brought together senior government officials, enterprise leaders, global technology partners, and members of Rwanda’s innovation ecosystem to discuss the future of AI-driven transformation in Africa.
Hitachi Vantara Regional Channel and Distribution Head Rehan Shahid said the partnership would combine Visiontech’s local presence with Hitachi’s advanced digital infrastructure and AI technologies to accelerate transformation across both public and private sectors.
“This initiative will accelerate Rwanda’s progress by many years,” Shahid said. “It will also create new opportunities and technology-focused jobs for local youth.”
Sophos Senior Sales Engineer for East Africa Dennis Murithi said the partnership would strengthen Rwanda’s cyber resilience as demand for secure digital infrastructure continues to rise.
“We intend to invest heavily in enablement within the country through training, skills development, and collaboration,” he said.
Sophos Senior Sales Engineer for East Africa Dennis Murithi said the partnership would strengthen Rwanda’s cyber resilience as demand for secure digital infrastructure continues to rise.
Meanwhile, Netviss Founder and CEO Aliasgar Bohra emphasised the growing importance of secure AI adoption and localised cybersecurity systems in Africa’s digital transition.
“Our AI operates through a local LLM that does not connect to the internet,” Bohra explained. “This ensures complete data sovereignty, where customer data never leaves the organisation.”
The summit also underscored the role of collaboration between government, private sector players, and innovators in driving Africa’s digital future.
Martin Carlos Mwizerwa, Managing Director of Rwanda-based systems integrator Centurion CatSystems, described the Visiontech partnership as aligned with Rwanda’s broader ambition of building a knowledge-based economy capable of serving the wider continent.
“Working with a company like Visiontech, with over 20 years of experience, can only strengthen our position and help lift everyone up across the country,” he said.
Visiontech PLG said it has already begun establishing local offices and building a Rwanda-based team, including the appointment of a Chief Technology Officer who will lead local operations as the company scales its activities across the region.
The company indicated that it aims to prioritise long-term partnerships, localisation, skills development, and sustainable digital transformation across Africa.
Panelists from Hitachi, RISA, Irembo, and Visiontech PLG highlighted Rwanda’s progress in delivering seamless digital services while exploring how resilience and intelligent infrastructure will power the next phase of national digital transformation.The event brought together senior government officials, enterprise leaders, global technology partners, and members of Rwanda’s innovation ecosystem to discuss the future of AI-driven transformation in Africa.
Researchers from Stanford University, Chapman University and Northeastern University said AI is reshaping not only whether firms hire, but also how they hire. More than 90 percent of U.S. employers now use hiring algorithms to screen applicants, they noted. The study analyzed data from 3.4 million applicants who submitted 4 million job applications to 156 employers across 11 sectors.
The study, titled “Algorithmic Monocultures in Hiring,” found that 14.74 percent of applications submitted by Asian candidates and 25.87 percent of those submitted by Black candidates were directed to positions where the screening systems had an adverse impact on those groups under U.S. employment discrimination standards.
“To put this in perspective,” the authors wrote, “if the AI had recommended Black and Asian candidates at the same rate as the most-favored group (typically white applicants), 40,000 more of their applications would have advanced to the next stage of the hiring process.”
The researchers also examined what they termed “algorithmic monoculture,” a phenomenon in which multiple employers rely on the same vendor’s hiring algorithms. Under such arrangements, a negative algorithmic assessment can potentially affect a candidate’s prospects across several companies using the same system.
The study recommended that employers and auditors assess automated hiring tools at the level of individual job positions rather than relying solely on company-wide or vendor-wide results. The study did not determine whether any employer violated the law or whether rejected applicants would ultimately have been successful hires.
The study recommended that employers and auditors assess automated hiring tools at the level of individual job positions rather than relying solely on company-wide or vendor-wide results.
The company announced its entry into the Rwandan market through Visiontech PLG Rwanda entity, which will officially launch during the Visiontech PLG Rwanda Launch Summit scheduled for Thursday, December 28, 2026, at Kigali Convention Centre.
Established in 2003 and headquartered in Dubai, Visiontech Systems International LLC is an IT systems integrator and technology solutions provider with more than two decades of experience delivering enterprise digital transformation projects for governments and private sector institutions.
The company said Rwanda was chosen deliberately because of its progressive digital governance model, encompassing smart city programs, e-government services, and open innovation ecosystems.
In a statement, Visiontech PLG Chief Executive Officer Aliasgar Dohadwala said Rwanda’s long-term vision for technology-driven growth aligns closely with the company’s expansion ambitions.
“Rwanda represents more than a new market for us; it represents alignment with a national vision for digital-first growth. At Visiontech PLG, we are not here to participate in transformation; we are here to help accelerate it with secure, scalable, and intelligent technology foundations,” he said.
The company plans to position itself as a strategic technology partner for both government institutions and enterprises seeking to modernise digital infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity resilience.
Its focus areas in Rwanda include public sector digital transformation, secure cloud and data sovereignty frameworks, AI-powered citizen services, and national digital infrastructure projects.
Visiontech PLG also intends to introduce advanced technology solutions centred on Zero Trust cybersecurity architecture, cloud-native and containerised workloads, Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations (AIOps), Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), and predictive cyber threat intelligence.
According to the company, the Kigali summit will bring together technology leaders, policymakers, government stakeholders, and enterprise decision-makers to discuss the future of Rwanda’s digital economy and explore collaboration opportunities in emerging technologies.
The expansion comes as Rwanda continues to position itself as a regional technology and innovation hub, attracting international firms seeking a stable regulatory environment, strong digital governance policies, and growing investment in ICT infrastructure.
Visiontech PLG described the Rwanda launch as an “inflection point” in its global evolution and a foundation for broader African growth ambitions.
Established in 2003 and headquartered in Dubai, Visiontech Systems International LLC is an IT systems integrator and technology solutions provider with more than two decades of experience delivering enterprise digital transformation projects for governments and private sector institutions.The company plans to position itself as a strategic technology partner for both government institutions and enterprises seeking to modernise digital infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity resilience.
The Shenzhou-21 crew aboard Tiangong opened the hatch at 5:13 a.m. (Beijing Time) and welcomed the new arrivals, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The two crews then took group pictures for the eighth space get-together in China’s aerospace history.
They will conduct handover work aboard the space station, the CMSA said.
This image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on May 25, 2026 shows the crew of Shenzhou-21 and Shenzhou-23 spaceships talking with each other.
Shortly after launch, SpaceX confirmed stage separation. The booster is scheduled to make a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.
The mission marks the debut flight of the next-generation Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy booster, powered by an upgraded version of the Raptor engine and launched from a newly designed pad at Starbase.
According to SpaceX, the primary objective of the flight test is to evaluate the performance of these upgraded systems in a real flight environment for the first time.
SpaceX launched the 12th flight test of its giant Starship rocket on Friday.
Officials say the success of this plan depends heavily on Rwanda’s long-term ambition to develop nuclear energy capacity of 600 megawatts by 2030 and up to 1.5 gigawatts by 2050, which is expected to provide the stable, high-volume electricity needed to support energy-intensive sectors such as data centers, mining, and advanced manufacturing.
Global demand for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital services is rapidly increasing, placing unprecedented pressure on electricity systems worldwide. Experts estimate that by 2030, AI could contribute up to $15 trillion to the global economy, but this growth depends on reliable energy infrastructure.
Data centers, which operate continuously to store and process information, are among the fastest-growing sources of electricity demand. In 2024, global data center consumption reached roughly 415 terawatt-hours and is projected to double by 2030.
Major technology companies including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta continue to expand infrastructure investments to meet this rising demand.
Various officials discussed the importance of nuclear energy in technology and mining operations at the recent Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit on Africa (NEISA) held in Kigali.
Industrial sectors competing for electricity
Beyond digital systems, heavy industries also place significant pressure on electricity supply. Mining and mineral processing operations require continuous and stable power, particularly in processes such as smelting, which can reach temperatures of up to 1,600°C.
Global firms such as Rio Tinto and Alcoa consume large amounts of electricity across their industrial operations, often at scales far beyond the current generation capacity of many developing economies.
Rwanda currently produces electricity in the range of hundreds of megawatts, highlighting a significant gap between existing supply and the requirements of large-scale industrial and digital expansion.
Nuclear energy positioned as long-term solution
Nuclear power is being considered as a key solution to meet this growing demand due to its ability to provide continuous, high-output, low-emission electricity.
Unlike intermittent renewable sources, nuclear plants deliver stable baseload power suitable for industries that cannot afford interruptions, such as data centers and mineral processing facilities.
One kilogram of uranium, for example, can generate energy equivalent to thousands of tons of coal, without producing greenhouse gas emissions during operation.
Senior officials, including Minister of ICT and Innovation Paula Ingabire and Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board CEO Alice Uwase, have emphasized that Rwanda’s digital and mining ambitions are closely tied to the availability of stable electricity.
Minister Paula Ingabire said that Rwanda plans to develop a $5 billion data center.
Officials note that nuclear projects require substantial upfront investment and long payback periods, making clear financing models and guaranteed demand essential for viability.
According to Ingabire, nuclear energy becomes more attractive to investors when 60%–70% of generated electricity is secured through long-term contracts with large industrial users rather than reliance on government off-take alone.
Mining and telecommunications expansion driving demand
Rwanda’s mining sector, which employs more than 90,000 people, is increasingly focused on value-added processing of minerals such as gold, coltan, and tin. However, limited electricity supply has constrained further industrial expansion, forcing some operations to rely on costly backup generators.
At the same time, telecommunications infrastructure is expanding rapidly. By the end of 2025, Rwanda had deployed 1,781 mobile network towers and nearly 25,000 kilometers of fiber-optic infrastructure.
Government projections indicate that more than 2,500 towers will be required to achieve full national coverage, further increasing electricity demand across the sector.
The CEO of the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board, Alice Uwase, noted that several large-scale mining projects require nuclear energy to sustain continued operations.
Officials argue that combining reliable nuclear energy with large-scale data infrastructure could position Rwanda as a regional hub for digital services. Even a 5-megawatt data center requires tens of millions of kilowatt-hours annually, highlighting the scale of energy required to support the sector.
Global technology firms such as Amazon, Google, and others continue to prioritize locations with stable, clean, and uninterrupted electricity supply, factors Rwanda aims to strengthen through its long-term energy strategy.
Data centers are among the most electricity-intensive infrastructure systems.
The comet, officially named C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), was not the original object researchers intended to observe. According to researchers from Auburn University, technical challenges forced them to switch to another target, only for the comet to suddenly split during observation.
A comet is a giant icy object made of frozen gases, dust and rock that travels through space. Scientists consider comets to be ancient remains from the birth of the solar system billions of years ago. When they move close to the Sun, heat causes their ice to melt, creating bright glowing tails visible from Earth.
Research professor John Noonan said the team only realized what had happened after reviewing Hubble’s images the next day. Instead of seeing one comet, they found four separate pieces.
The researchers explained that the comet likely broke apart after passing very close to the Sun, where extreme heat and pressure weaken such icy bodies. Before splitting, the comet was estimated to be about eight kilometers wide.
According to the scientists, the breakup may help reveal ancient material hidden inside the comet for billions of years, giving researchers a better understanding of how the solar system formed.
The study also revealed another mystery. Scientists expected the comet to brighten immediately after splitting, but the increase in brightness happened more slowly than expected.
The comet fragments are now drifting farther away from Earth and are unlikely to ever return to the solar system.
This diagram shows the path the long-period comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), or K1 for short, took as it swung past the Sun and began its journey out of the Solar System. On November 10, 2025, Hubble captured the inset image of the fragmenting comet. Hubble took this image just a month after K1’s closest approach to the Sun, called perihelion. During perihelion, a comet experiences its most intense heating and maximum stress. Just past perihelion is when some long-period comets like K1 tend to fall apart. K1’s perihelion was inside Mercury’s orbit, about one-third the distance of the Earth from the Sun. This is the first time Hubble has witnessed a comet so early in the process of breaking up. Credit: NASA, ESA, R. Crawford (STScI)
The agreement was signed by Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Jimmy Gasore, and IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi during the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA 2026) held in Kigali.
Under the partnership, Rwanda will receive technical and institutional support in key areas such as energy planning, infrastructure development, workforce training, stakeholder engagement, financing, and capacity building. The cooperation is intended to help the country prepare for potential nuclear power deployment in the coming years.
The signing came shortly after Rwanda received a report from the IAEA confirming its transition to Phase Two of its nuclear power programme. This stage focuses on preparatory activities ahead of a possible government decision to proceed with the contracting and construction of a nuclear power plant.
Phase Two also involves the establishment of key institutions, strengthening human resource capacity, and the development of legal and regulatory frameworks required to support nuclear energy implementation.
The agreement was signed by Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Jimmy Gasore, and IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi during the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA 2026) held in Kigali.
Rwanda completed Phase One of the programme in March following an Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission conducted by the IAEA. The assessment evaluated the country’s readiness to begin a nuclear energy programme and identified areas that still require further development.
The INIR process is part of the IAEA Milestones Approach, which guides countries through structured phases of nuclear infrastructure development, from initial consideration through to construction and operation. Phase One focuses on early planning steps, including feasibility studies and defining a national position on nuclear energy.
Small Modular Reactors are being considered as a key option for Rwanda due to their flexibility, relatively lower upfront costs, and smaller land requirements compared to conventional nuclear power plants.
Rwanda’s leadership says nuclear energy is expected to play a central role in supporting industrial growth and strengthening long-term energy security.
President Paul Kagame emphasised the importance of the milestone, saying:
“Rwanda is pleased to have successfully completed the IAEA’s Phase 1 Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR). We intend to have nuclear energy operational by the early 2030s, and this assessment confirms that we are on track. For Africa, energy is not simply a development issue. It is the foundation of industrial growth and competitiveness.”
Rwanda aims to generate up to 1.5 gigawatts of electricity from nuclear power by 2050.
Under the partnership, Rwanda will receive technical and institutional support in key areas such as energy planning, infrastructure development, workforce training, stakeholder engagement, financing, and capacity building.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi highlighted the broader continental context of nuclear development, noting:
“Africa’s energy future will be built by Africans, and the IAEA is ready to continue supporting countries across the continent, from infrastructure development and capacity building to new technologies such as SMRs.”
With Phase Two now underway and the new agreement in place, Rwanda’s nuclear energy programme is entering a more advanced stage of preparation, marking a significant step toward potential future deployment.
