Cho, Moses ATsekoa, Tshepo L2026-10-052026-10-052026-08http://hdl.handle.net/10204/14968Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a transformative enabler of research and development (R&D) within the Advanced Chemicals and Life Sciences (ACLS) domain. This presentation explores how AI can accelerate the journey from scientific discovery to practical impact by enhancing decision-making, improving research efficiency, and supporting faster translation of innovation into real-world applications. Key examples include the use of computer vision in precision agriculture and food safety for automated quality assessment, yield estimation, defect detection, and waste reduction; the application of African health data to inform diagnostics, therapeutic development, and healthcare decision-making; and the use of predictive AI models in chemicals and materials science to forecast outcomes before synthesis and scale-up. The study highlights 35 identified AI applications across ACLS, demonstrating varying levels of maturity and strategic value. To maximize benefits, four strategic opportunity areas are proposed to focus investment, capability development, and organizational learning. The presentation further emphasizes the importance of tailored acceleration pathways and a shared institutional AI backbone supported by trusted external networks. Collectively, these approaches position AI as a critical catalyst for innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness in scientific research and industrial development.FulltextenArtificial IntelligenceAIResearch and DevelopmentR&DAdvanced Chemicals and Life SciencesACLSPrecision AgricultureConference Presentationn/a