Wednesday, February 23, 2022

European Union-African Union Summit, Science and Innovation side events, 14-18 February 2022

14-18 February 2022. The AERAP Africa-Europe Science Collaboration Platform organised side events at the AU-EU Summit. 

The purpose of these meetings were to promote awareness of the contribution of collaborative research and development as a critical aspect of EU-Africa relations and collaborations, in particular in addressing global challenges together.

The discussed topics included:

  • The Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument, NDICI, also known as Global Europe, needs to reflect the enormous potential of collaborative and inclusive science to address the policy objectives addressed by the instrument, including digital transition and the Green deal. The Communication from the Commission on the Global Approach to Research and Innovation is a key paper: the Communication is intended to serve as a guide in implementing the international dimension of the new EU programme for civil research and innovation, Horizon Europe, and its synergies with other EU programmes, in particular the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe.
  • Accelerate an inclusive approach to collaborative research, recognising Africa leadership and the untapped potential of women and girls to contribute to science and innovation. This needs to start with a more cohesive and inclusive approach to policymaking and regulations impacting Africa and research collaborations with Africa.
  • Consider how to leverage synergies between funding mechanisms led by the EU and development finance provided by the African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, the World Bank and others.
  • Raise awareness of the unforeseen and unintended impact of EU regulations on potential research collaborations. These include data privacy, the General Data Protection Regulation, the In-vitro Diagnostics Regulation (IVDR), the Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) and the Clinical Trials Regulation. Good regulation cannot act as a barrier between EU and African researchers. African nations need to build their enabling regulatory environment and regulatory compliance with the EU. There is also an urgent need to create an enabling environment for trust-based relationships.
  • Indigenous knowledge can as a force for good and part of the equation when promoting Africa-Europe science collaboration, including developing relevant information services and linking indigenous knowledge to data capacities; patent data. WTO TRIPS Art. 66.2 is critical also in this regard.
Extracts of the programme:


14/02 Impact of regulations on science and innovation in Africa - convened by AERAP

14/02 Promoting a sustainable EU-AU partnership through university collaboration - Convened by African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA)

15/02. Making the green deal a reality in the tropical world - Convened by CIFOR-ICRAF

16/02 A presentation on the interface between Horizon Europe and NDIC/Global Europe
  • Nienke Buisman is Head of Unit International Cooperation Policy in the European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation
  • She is in charge of developing and implementing the ‘Global Approach to Research and Innovation’, Europe’s strategy for international cooperation, specifically focussing on Africa, Asia
16/02 Africa IP SME Helpdesk

17/02 Africa-EU collaboration on the SDGs and Local2030 - Convened by AERAP and UNDP

18/02 South -South Science and Innovation Cooperation - Convened Professor Mammo Muchie by Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa

18/02 Using Science Diplomacy as a powerful instrument to foster European-African cooperation
Many African countries have made significant progress toward meeting some of their ambitious objectives for development and political integration, the need remains to further progress the link between science interacting with diplomacy. Science diplomacy should, therefore, be recognized as a priority in shaping continental as well as national policy and development agendas. Science Diplomacy in Europe, on the other hand, has been on the rise over that last few years. It already plays a role in the new EU Global Approach and the Global Gateway Initiative of the European Commission.

Speakers
avatar for Jackie Kado

Jackie Kado

Executive Director, Network of African Science Academies (NASAC)
Jackie Kado is the Executive Director of the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) based in Nairobi, Kenya. NASAC is a consortium of twenty-eight science academies in Africa, whose membership is drawn from all spheres of science.  She has served science academies in various... Read More →
avatar for Nienke Buisman

Nienke Buisman

Head of Unit International Cooperation Policy, European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation
Nienke Buisman is Head of Unit International Cooperation Policy in the European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation since 2019. She is in charge of developing and implementing the ‘Global Approach to Research and Innovation’, Europe’s strategy for international cooperation, specifically focussing on Africa, Asia and the Middle East... Read More →
avatar for Jean-Pierre Bourguignon

Jean-Pierre Bourguignon

IHES
JEAN-PIERRE BOURGUIGNONProfessor Jean-Pierre Bourguignon is President ad interim of the European Research Council (ERC) (from 27 July 2020 until the next ERC President is selected and takes up duties).Previously, he was the ERC President from January 2014 until December 2019.Prior... Read More →
avatar for Daan du Toit

Daan du Toit

Deputy Director-General: ICR, Department of Science and Innovation
Daan du Toit started his career in the South African Government with the then Department of Foreign Affairs where he trained as a diplomat. Since 2002 he has been attached to the Department of Science and Innovation, where he has notably served as the Department's representative in... Read More →
avatar for Hambani Masheleni

Hambani Masheleni

African Union Commission
Mr. Hambani Masheleni is a holder of an MSc Applied Physics and BSc Physics Honours degrees. He has a broad range of training and work experience in public sector through promoting formulation and implementation policies for science, technology and innovation. Currently he is employed... Read More →
avatar for Maria Cristina Russo

Maria Cristina Russo

Director for Global Approach and International Cooperation in R&I at European Commission, European Commission
Maria Cristina Russo is Director for International Cooperation in DG Research and Innovation with responsibility for developing and implementing the EU international strategy for international cooperation in research and innovation and the international dimension of the Horizon programme.She... Read More →
avatar for Mobolaji Oladoyin Odubanjo

Mobolaji Oladoyin Odubanjo

Chair of INGSA African Chapter, Nigerian Academy of Science
Dr Mobolaji Oladoyin Odubanjo is a public health physician who currently serves as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) where he leads the Academy’s work in science advice. He was previously the Chair of the Association of Public Health Physicians of... Read More →
avatar for Jane Olwoch

Jane Olwoch

Executive Director, SASSCAL
Dr Jane Olwoch has been appointed as SASSCAL’s Executive Director with effect from 1 February 2017. Dr Olwoch formally succeeds Dr Henry Mwima as well as Dr Yonah Seleti who had been acting in the position during the interim period.Dr Olwoch is a climate change impact specialist... Read More →


18/02 Ireland Africa Rural Development Committee with Tom Arnold

Shared reports:
3 reports were released last week relevant for FNSSA research (food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture):

EC (2021) Recommendations on how to make R&I a driver for sustainable development in AU-EU relations #131 p.

This policy study is authored by the Advisory Group (AG) on R&I for Africa-Europe cooperation commissioned by the European Commission's Directorates-General for Research and Innovation and for International Partnerships. The document presents the group's findings on how to best mainstream and boost R&I-cooperation with African partners in the field of (1) health, (2) R&I capacities, (3) technology and innovation and (4) green transition.
The most comprehensive and essential concept to ensure healthy soils in Africa will be the soil security framework. This relatively new concept has been developed and advocated by European scientists and presents soils as the main connector of our major societal challenges.

Abuse of pesticides and monoculture cropping directly affects soil biodiversity, with a 40% loss under monoculture and an 80% loss due to pesticides. Pesticides also end up in rivers and groundwater. An important part of this work is to differentiate African soils from European soils, a key step in ensuring the right science and innovation for Africa’s green transition.

Farmers’ organisations and cooperative involvement in R&I projects must be promoted better and a balanced and inclusive participation in projects both in Africa and Europe must harness the potential role of the private sector.

A major effort is needed to encourage African politicians to become part of the green transition and to collaborate with everyone involved, since these politicians will be among the most important players. A framework that will fully involve and inform politicians throughout the whole process is very important for taking intercountry decisions and actions, aspects that fall under the good governance umbrella.
Highlights:
  • Mohammed VI Polytechnic University – UM6P.
  • The science granting councils initiative (SGCI)
  • Southern Africa innovation support programme (SAIS Phase II)

EC (2022) EU-AU R&I Partnership on FNSSA: investment strategies and measures identification. #73 p.
This report on the “mapping” of projects pertaining to the EU-AU R&I partnership on FNSSA, identified the most promising research projects from a socio-economic development and innovation standpoint and to document the specific needs that should be addressed for such projects to turn into tangible business and development opportunities.
With regards to the needs and next steps, most projects would need additional funding for a successful scale up to occur. Moreover, many projects would need some type of business development support in order to translate the research outputs into economic and entrepreneurial opportunities. Furthermore, some would need assistance in transferring the results to the private sector and/or in managing IP rights.

[Research project] Coordinators usually do not know about the existence of many public funding programmes and often lack the connections or visibility with private investors.

There is a need for more professional institutionalised Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs). These are important institutions for the successful transferability of research outputs to entrepreneurs.
EC (2021) Participation of African researchers and innovators in COST Action #32 p.
This report is a result of the joint work between SFIC Africa Working Group and the COST Association. This blog posts lists the 12 COST Actions on Green transition with at least one African partner.
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