The Neuroscience20 Global Neurotech Summit will take place in Johannesburg on Friday, bringing together international experts to address the growing global burden of neurological disorders and to advance innovation in brain and mental health. The working group meeting will be held at the Radisson Blu Hotel Gautrain in Sandton, a day before the G20 leaders’ summit.
The summit is hosted in partnership with the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics and the World Brain Mapping Foundation. It forms part of a broader initiative aimed at fast-tracking diagnostics and therapeutics for neurological conditions and supporting the development of neurotechnology-focused start-ups.
The Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics launched the African Brain Initiative in 2013 as part of a global effort to link neuroscience, mental health and innovation to policy processes in the G20. The N20 South Africa Summit will bring together neurotech entrepreneurs, neurosurgeons, neuroscientists, neurologists, psychiatrists, engineers, philanthropists, policymakers and industry leaders. Discussions will focus on the human and financial impact of neurological disorders, estimated to cost sixteen trillion dollars globally each year.
Organisers said the event is now linked to collaborations with brain initiatives in the Middle East, Latin America, Europe, the United States and Australasia. The agenda includes discussions on the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare, stem cell therapy, immunotherapy, nanoneurosurgery, mixed reality surgery, predictive modelling, quantum computing, robotics, brain mapping, genomics, proteomics, optics and neurophotonics.
The gathering will also highlight the situation of unemployed doctors in South Africa. Organisers said the summit aims to serve as a platform for integrating medical graduates into neurotech projects that could support innovation and job creation. They said these initiatives may assist in reducing the economic burden linked to neurological disorders in the country.
The event will conclude with the launch of the Africa Brain Initiative, which aims to create a hub for research, innovation and job opportunities. The initiative is intended to support Africa’s participation in N20 and G20 collaboration on neuroscience and neurotechnology.
Summit organisers said Africa faces growing neurological and mental health challenges and limited infrastructure to meet demand. They said the region stands to benefit from aligning with global partners in emerging technologies that are expected to shape the future of healthcare and economic development.
The summit will feature heads of state, representatives from the South African Department of Health, international policy representatives, global neurosurgeons, scientists, industry leaders and a group of unemployed South African doctors. Participants will engage in discussions on data sharing, multimodality imaging, nanobioelectronics, neurophotonics, cellular therapeutics, robotics, brain computer interfaces, neural repair, neuroengineering, artificial intelligence in clinical neuroscience, virtual reality and predictive modelling.
The event builds on support from a range of organisations that backed the 2013 launch of the African Brain Initiative, including companies in medical technology, imaging and surgical innovation.
Media opportunities will include press briefings with political leaders and international scientists, interviews with congressional representatives and specialists, and coverage of the launch of the Africa Brain Initiative and its plans for job creation. Media outlets will also be able to capture photo and video material featuring global innovators and African policymakers.
