What is it about?
This study looks at how computer vision research is progressing in Africa. We analyzed over 60,000 publications between 2012 and 2022 to see where research is happening, who is publishing, and how much collaboration exists between African and international researchers. We also explore whether African researchers are getting equal opportunities to publish in top-tier computer vision venues, as well as the major topics they focus on in their work.
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Why is it important?
Computer vision is a key technology used in applications like facial recognition, medical imaging, and autonomous vehicles. Despite its relevance, Africa contributes only a small fraction of global research in this field. By highlighting the barriers African researchers face in publishing in top-tier venues and the lack of regional collaborations, this study shines a light on areas that need improvement. Our findings can help shape policies to make research more equitable and impactful for African communities.
Perspectives
This publication reflects an important milestone in understanding the role African researchers play in global computer vision. Personally, it feels both motivating and concerning to see how much talent exists across the continent, yet how underrepresented we are in prestigious scientific venues. I hope this work will inspire more local collaborations and support for African researchers, as well as push for better alignment between research and the real-world needs of our communities.
Houcemeddine Turki
Universite de Sfax
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Towards a Better Understanding of the Computer Vision Research Community in Africa, October 2023, ACM (Association for Computing Machinery),
DOI: 10.1145/3617694.3623221.
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