NextBillion - A WDI Publication

Venue is located at the Ocean Breeze Hotel and Conference Center, Strand, Western Cape, South Africa.

About the 2026 Conference
The high energy density of Lithium-ion battery systems stands as a cornerstone in contemporary portable and stationary electrical energy storage. This paradigm shift demands a fresh set of skills and a multidisciplinary approach in engineering and science, ushering in concepts like thermal runaway and propagating circuit board failures. Balancing these challenges, the safety, reliability, usability, and cost-effectiveness of lithium-ion battery systems emerge as pivotal factors, rendering this technology not only viable but also low-risk.

In South Africa, the adoption of lithium-ion technology is gaining momentum on both residential and commercial fronts. The nation’s proactive stance positions it to lead the charge in advancing this technology throughout the African continent.

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Call for Presentions
Calling for academia, suppliers, system integrators, government and association speakers to share your market leading products, research, and how Lithium ion technology can benefit energy storage, clean energy and smart gid stabilization to future customers, academia and world leaders.

Email us to submit your proposal for presentation at contact@beasfa.com

Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership?

In the global competition for capital, size matters.

The breakdown of multilateralism and aid flows, alongside rising conflict in the Middle East, is redrawing capital allocation and sharpening investors’ search for stability and scale. Scale has also become a defining corporate imperative, as leading nations in Asia and North America are leveraging advanced technological expertise – from clean energy and digital platforms to manufacturing and finance – to project influence through their major companies. As for Europe, having created the world’s most integrated common market, it is now seeking to better harness this strength to foster more truly continental champions like Airbus, recognising the cost of overlooking this fundamental shift:

Scale is no longer an option. It is the first line of defence.
In this new world, can Africa rise to the occasion? The continent has demonstrated resilience, with growth rates rising, sovereign ratings improving, and the AfDB securing record replenishment. But as the European experience has shown, if Africa is to compete on the global landscape, reaching the necessary scale will require not only removing the physical and regulatory barriers but also encouraging the emergence of truly continental champions and projects. Achieving this will mean moving beyond a mindset sometimes anchored in economic patriotism and embracing a new vision: shared ownership.

Shared ownership offers Africa its clearest path to scale.

The Philea Forum 2026 will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark on 18-21 May, exploring “Philanthropy for People and Planet”, hosted by a group of Danish foundations.

Photo courtesy of 

GITEX host the largest network of relationships globally with public & private sectors in the international digital economy. GITEX brings together 587,500+ Tech & Business Executives, 17,800+ global tech firms and 10,443+ startups from 189 countries.

Africa’s tech ecosystem is vibrant and purpose-driven. Instead of replicating legacy models, we are building new ones through innovations in food systems, healthcare, education, and governance.

Every innovation serves the mission to uplift lives, bridge gaps, and build futures.”

AI EVERYTHING KENYA x GITEX KENYA unites Africa’s public and private sector leaders to accelerate AI adoption, digital policy, and cross-border collaboration.

From telecom and healthcare to finance, agriculture, and education, the event drives investment,
innovation, and digital transformation — positioning Kenya as Africa’s AI epicentre.

FUTURE BUILT HOME EMPOWERING EVERYONE THROUGH AI
Where policymakers, business leaders, and innovators shape Africa’s AI revolution. More than a summit, it is a marketplace of ideas and investment — driving real-world adoption, bold strategies, and cross-border collaboration. From finance and healthcare to energy and agriculture, the conversations here forge partnerships and accelerate Africa’s digital economy on the global stage.

Experience the New Enlit Africa: More Insight. More Influence. More Opportunities.

Africa’s Energy Transition Needs a Meeting Place
Africa’s power and water systems face real operational pressure. Utility teams, municipal engineers, C&I energy managers, developers and financiers are grappling with infrastructure strain, rising demand, service delivery challenges and financing bottlenecks.

Progress requires alignment.

Enlit Africa brings the system together — to share what works, compare approaches and accelerate the practical, financial and operational solutions Africa needs right now.

The Impact Investor Global Summit 2026 is back – bigger and better than ever! Join 700+ leaders in impact and transition investing, including 250+ active allocators on 19-20 May, returning to the Brewery, London.

As the leading global event in impact investing, the Summit is your chance to dive into how private capital is fuelling a sustainable and equitable future – and uncover the investable opportunities within this shift.

By now, your year is properly underway, plans are being made, diaries are filling up, and attention is turning to the moments that will define 2026. The Africa Soft Power Summit, taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, from May 20th to 22nd, 2026, is one of those moments. Africa Soft Power Summit 2026.

Secure your place The Africa Soft Power Summit returns to Nairobi in May, with early bird ticket discounts available. Each year, the Summit brings together a carefully curated mix of decision-makers, creators, investors, policymakers, business, and cultural leaders.

The real value lies in the rooms, the connections, and the conversations that extend well beyond the event itself. Attendance is already taking shape, and we encourage you to secure your place early.