Africa-Europe Collaboration

🌍 Current Status of EU–Africa Science Collaboration

The collaboration between the European Union (EU) and Africa in science, technology, and innovation (STI) has become one of the most dynamic dimensions of Europe’s international research policy. It is guided by a shared ambition to address global challenges such as climate change, health, food security, energy, and digital transformation through joint research and innovation partnerships.

🔹 Foundations: From Horizon Europe (FP9) to FP10

Under the current EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation — Horizon Europe (2021–2027, FP9) — Africa has been identified as a strategic partner region.
Key mechanisms include:

• The EU–Africa Global Health Partnership (EDCTP3), supporting collaborative clinical research to combat infectious diseases.
• The Africa Initiative I–III within Horizon Europe, mobilising hundreds of millions of euros for joint R&I projects on health, food systems, renewable energy, and digital innovation.
• The AU–EU Innovation Agenda (adopted in 2023), which provides a policy framework for aligning African and European research priorities.

By mid-2025, more than 350 projects involving African partners had been launched under Horizon Europe, with an investment exceeding €650 million.

Looking ahead, the next Framework Programme (FP10) — expected to start in 2028 — will consolidate and expand this partnership. Consultations within the European Commission, the African Union, and the science diplomacy community (including AERAP) indicate that FP10 will:

• Deepen bi-regional research alignment under the AU–EU Innovation Agenda.
• Strengthen African leadership and institutional capacity in consortia.
• Integrate STI cooperation into the EU’s Global Gateway and Green Deal strategies.
• Support co-funded programmes and shared research infrastructures between Europe and Africa.

🔹 Strategic Context

EU–Africa cooperation in science is now recognised as a cornerstone of:

• The EU Global Gateway — connecting sustainable investment with research and education.
• The European Green Deal — supporting joint action on biodiversity, energy transition, and circular economy.
• The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — particularly in health (SDG 3), food (SDG 2), climate (SDG 13), and innovation (SDG 9).

🔹 Looking Forward

As preparations advance for FP10 (2028–2034) and the post-2030 global development framework, the EU–Africa science partnership is evolving from a participation model to a co-leadership model — one that builds a shared knowledge economy, drives sustainable investment, and strengthens science as a foundation for global resilience, peace, and prosperity.

🔹 AERAP’s Contribution to the EU–Africa Partnership

Through its convening power, policy dialogue, and advocacy, AERAP contributes to:

• Policy Alignment: Supporting coherence between EU Framework Programmes (FP9, FP10), the AU–EU Innovation Agenda, and the UN SDGs, ensuring that joint science efforts serve global and African priorities alike.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Bringing together parliamentarians, policymakers, research institutions, and private sector leaders to shape inclusive, evidence-based cooperation models.
• Capacity and Infrastructure Development: Promoting shared access to research infrastructures, digital connectivity, and training to empower African scientific leadership.
• Science Diplomacy: Acting as a neutral platform to strengthen dialogue between the EU, AU, and global partners on issues such as health security, food systems, digital transformation, and the green transition.
• Visibility and Communication: Showcasing the impact of Africa–Europe scientific cooperation through the Science Summit series and thematic dialogues that feed into the Science Summit Action Declaration and FP10 policy process.

By fostering trust, mutual respect, and long-term collaboration, AERAP ensures that EU–Africa science cooperation evolves into a strategic partnership of equals — delivering measurable progress toward a sustainable, resilient, and innovation-driven future for both continents.