
NEXTCOMP 2026 conference highlights AI and digital innovation in Mauritius
The fifth International Conference on Next Generation Computing Applications NEXTCOMP 2026 was held at Ocean's Creek Beach Hotel in Balaclava, organized by the University of Mauritius's Faculty of Information, Communication and Digital Technologies FoICDT with technical support from IEEE. The two-day conference brought together researchers, academics, industry professionals, policymakers, and students to discuss advancements in next-generation computing and digital technologies. Key topics included artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data science, and the Internet of Things IoT. Guest speakers included Dr. Ram Herkanaidu, a security researcher at the University of Nottingham, UK, and Professor Tanzila Saba, an academic lead at Prince Sultan University, Saudi Arabia. The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Information, Communication and Innovation, Avinash Ramtohul, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mauritius, Professor Kavi Kumar Khedo, and the Dean of FoICDT, Associate Professor Maleika Heenaye-Mamode Khan. Minister Ramtohul emphasized the importance of responsible AI, cybersecurity, and digital trust for the country's technological transformation, mentioning the C2PA standard for digital content traceability and government initiatives like the AI Unit and AI Marketplace. He also announced a forthcoming FabLab in 脡b猫ne Cybercity to support researchers, students, and entrepreneurs, and noted the government's work on revising the Cybers



