Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Research and Innovation in Africa: a driver for development and partnerships

13 September 2023. Brussels + Online. Conference on Research and Innovation in Africa: a driver for development and partnerships

See the Programme

Link for online participation:

A roadmap for research and innovation between the European Union and the African Union was agreed at the occasion of the EU-AU Summit in February 2022. It identifies 4 objectives: translate innovative capacities and achievements into tangible outputs, strengthen innovation ecosystems, develop sustainable, long lasting and mutually beneficial higher education and R&I and scale up instruments that can take forward existing successful programmes and projects. 

In the context of the revision of the EU multiannual financial framework and of the programming of EU external action instruments for 25-27, the conference will discuss the role of research and innovation for the development of partnerships between the European Union and partner countries, through a focus on African countries.

Aims of the conference
  • Through a focus on the EU-African scientific partnerships, brainstorming on the implementation of Research & Innovation policies in support to the Global Gateway strategy;
  • Give visibility to European Research & Innovation expertise in the field of partnerships for development;
  • Promote the dialogue between European research organisations and the European Commission on EU Research & Innovation policies and funding mechanisms in the Global Gateway context;
  • Mobilize European research organizations in the implementation of the Global Gateway strategy;
  • Provide a political framework for the creation of a European Research Alliance for Sustainable Development in partner countries in the Global South.

Keynote speeches – The role of Research and Innovation in the European Union – African Union partnership

  • Hans Stausboll, Director for Africa, DG INTPA 
  • Erik Hansalek  (see speaker), Head of Unit Africa, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBFGermany
    "We can not ensure success but we can deserve it"
  • Patrick Nedellec, Director for European and International cooperation, French Ministry of Higher Education and Research  

Round Table 1: The singularities of the Research & Innovation partnerships for development 


Through the example of Africa, the round table allowed research organizations to explain the needs and specificities of the R&I for development. 

The testimonials addressed the following topics in particular: research infrastructures, issues related to HR/training/mobility, the notion of scientific excellence in research with the South and the construction of sustainable partnerships. 
  • Lise Korsten (second from left), President African Academy of Sciences. She is the first woman President to lead the Academy. She will serve for a three-year term running from 2023-2026.  

    "We hope the ARISE I project will be continued in ARISE II."

    Note: African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence (ARISE) is implemented by the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and promotes research in different fields of scientific endeavour taking into account EU-AU joint priorities such as public health and green transition. 

  • Olusola Bandele Oyewole, General Director, Association of African Universities  AAS
  • Amadou Sall, General Director, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, President of Pasteur Network  (failed to connect online)
  • Stephen Onakuse, President, Alliance Agrinatura 

    "The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa will be the leader of a new Horizon-Europe project in which AGRINATURA will be a partner"

    Note:  CEA-FIRST and StePPFOS were selected under the HORIZON-CL6-2023-FARM2FORK: Long-term sustainable platform for the EU-AU cooperation under the FNSSA partnership. 

  • Emilian Cioc, Deputy regional director, Agence universitaire de la francophonie  
  • Moderation: Michael Hörig, Director of Brussels’ Office, DAAD 

Round Table 2: The European R&I policy framework to support the partnerships for development


DG INTPA presented in particular the role of R&I in the Global Gateway strategy, while DG RTD  detailed the Global approach of R&I with a focus on Africa (e.g.: EU-AU roadmap/Africa initiative Horizon Europe). The presentations of a Member State and a National Funding Agency will highlight their ownership of the political framework and, in particular, the added value of the so called “Team Europe” approach. 
  • Carla Montesi (see video picture), Director, Green Deal and Digital Agenda, DG INTPA 

    "With a budget of 8 million INTPA will start in 2024 the Technical support to the coordination of the ‘Scientific and technological support to the Regional centres of Excellence related to Green Transition’ Note: Reference number: INTPA/2023/EA-RP/0016 

    Question: The scarcity of human resources at EUD level, the focus on directly managed projects and the sometimes disappointing follow-up of national research agendas have indeed  been signalled as bottlenecks. in the report "EU support to sustainable agri-food systems in partner countries 2014-2020"  IS IT REALISTIC TO EXPECT THAT EU delegations also follow the national research agenda considering the limited staff? 

  • Nienke Buisman, Head of Unit, International Cooperation, DG RTD 

    "We plan to organise another Research info session in November" 

    "Under the Africa Initiative II a series of calls for proposals were published which are open to/requiring the participation of African scientists. We received already some 205 proposals" 

    Question:  INtegrated and Circular Technologies for Sustainable city region FOOD systems in Africa (INCiTiS-FOOD) will be showcased in New York 22/09. This consortium exceptionally involves a financial partner (AFRACA) to upscale innovation. IS THIS THE WAY FORWARD? 

  • Thomas Melonio, Director Innovation, Strategy, Research, Agence française pour le développement (AFD)  

    "AFD invested some 50 to 60 million on research. But research competes with many other priorities. We want in particular to bridge the gap between research and policy makers for green transition. In South Africa we analyze with EU funding the effect of the energy transition. We have a similar research going on, on the impact of the just and green transition policy in Colombia. Our AFD innovation fund wants to fund small projects with high impact. We want to scale up the most efficient innovations."

  • Isabel Diaz, Deputy Vice President of the Spanish Research Council (CSIC)  
  • Moderation: Alain Mermet, Permanent Representative to the EU, CNRS

Round Table 3: Tools and resources available


This panel discussed the operational aspects of certain R&I instruments set up by the European Commission to support partnerships with African countries:  
  • Olivier Sagna, Director for Studies & Cooperation, Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Senegal  
  • Helena Posthumus, Programme Director DeSRIA-Lift, Wageningen University – DeSIRA  

    Q for Helena Posthumus : A follow up of the programme, with the working title Desira+, is in the making. How will it involve the CAADP XP4 organisations (FARA, ASARECA, CORAF, CARDESSA) and RECs  (COMESA, ECOWAS,...) more intensely to co-design and lead in the programme and projects, including in related policy dialogue?
  • Ibrahim Karidio Diori, Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire, Niger – ARISE  
  • Fluvio Franchi, Project Coordinator, Pan African Planetary and Space Science Network  
  • Moderation: Olivier Dangles, Deputy Science Director, IRD 

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