The economist Steven Landsburg famously posited that economics can be defined in two words: “incentives matter”,1  all else is commentary. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has the potential to transform Africa’s economy, increase productivity, enhance competitiveness and achieve business growth. Historically, Africa has lagged behind other regions in employing the full potential of the previous industrial revolutions and this has limited its ability to become a truly competitive market. 

Compared to the rest of the world, the current adoption and impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the continent remains low. Embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution also requires investment in, inter alia, digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), robotics and 3D printing.