Nature News examines African countries’ scientific capacity and efforts in a series of articles. “The forecast for science in Africa has brightened over the past decade. After enduring civil wars and economic crises, many countries have entered a period of rapid growth and leaders are starting to see science and technology as the keys to progress. In 2006, members of the African Union endorsed a target for each nation to spend 1% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on research and development (R&D). And at a summit the following year, heads of state in Africa declared 2007 the year for scientific innovation. The available data show much progress, but many nations have big gaps to overcome,” Nature News writes (Irikefe et al., 6/29).