Our Mandate
To lead the digital transformation of NISIR's research infrastructure, develop strategic information systems, and apply data science and AI to accelerate scientific discovery and innovation.
Our Mission
To innovate and deliver cutting-edge digital solutions, data analytics platforms, and strategic information systems that enhance research capabilities and drive evidence-based decision-making.
Our Vision
To be a center of excellence in digital innovation and strategic information management in Africa, driving data-driven research and development for national progress.
About the Department
The Digital Transformation & Strategic Information department at NISIR is Zambia's leading hub for digital innovation in research. Established in 2018, we have been at the forefront of applying artificial intelligence, data science, Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud computing to accelerate scientific discovery and improve research efficiency. Our state-of-the-art data center, high-performance computing cluster, and expert team of data scientists and software engineers collaborate with all research departments to provide digital solutions that enhance data collection, analysis, and visualization for impactful research outcomes.
Department in Action
Data Science & Analytics Laboratory
See our high-performance computing and visualization facilities
IoT & Sensor Networks
Smart agriculture and environmental monitoring systems
Research Activities
Data Analytics
Big data processing and visualization
Artificial Intelligence
Machine learning for research
Internet of Things
Sensor networks for research
Cloud Infrastructure
Research data management
Past Projects
Research Data Repository (2021-2025)
Developed NISIR's centralized research data repository with FAIR data principles, hosting over 500 datasets.
Crop Disease Detection AI (2020-2024)
Created machine learning models using drone imagery to detect cassava mosaic disease with 94% accuracy.
Digital Soil Mapping (2019-2023)
Developed high-resolution digital soil maps for Zambia using remote sensing and machine learning.
Current Research Projects
AI-Powered Research Assistant
Lead: Dr. Chanda · Started Jan 2026 · Expected completion: Dec 2028
Developing a large language model trained on African scientific literature to assist researchers.
IoT for Smart Agriculture
Lead: Dr. Tembo · Started Mar 2025 · Expected completion: Aug 2027
Deploying wireless sensor networks for real-time monitoring of soil moisture and crop health in smallholder farms.
Blockchain for Research Integrity
Lead: Dr. Phiri · Started Feb 2026 · Expected completion: Mar 2029
Developing a blockchain-based system for verifying research data provenance and publication integrity.
Recent Publications
Chanda M., Tembo S., et al. (2026). "Development of a multilingual African language model for scientific literature comprehension." Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research, 75, 1123-1145.
Tembo S., Phiri C. (2025). "Low-cost wireless sensor networks for smallholder farm monitoring in sub-Saharan Africa." Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 215, 108-122.
Phiri C., Chanda M. (2025). "A blockchain framework for research data provenance and verification." Future Generation Computer Systems, 145, 234-248.