AERAP Roundtable on African Science Leadership and EU Research & Development Policy

Date: 18th March 2025

The Africa-Europe Science Collaboration Platform (AERAP) is pleased to announce a high-level roundtable discussion on the critical role of African science leadership in supporting the European Union’s next Framework Programme for Research (FP10) (2028-2034) and its broader impact on EU development policy.

As the EU prepares for the next Framework Programme for Research (FP10) (2028 – 2034), the meeting will explore opportunities to enhance Africa-Europe scientific and innovation collaboration, ensuring that African expertise and priorities contribute meaningfully to the EU and its Member States research and innovation agenda. Additionally, the discussion will examine how science can support the EU’s future development programmes, particularly in addressing global challenges, including health, climate change, energy, digital transformation and the UN SDGs.

Key Themes:

🔹 African science leadership and its role in FP10 preparations
🔹 Strengthening Africa-Europe research partnerships for innovation and sustainable development
🔹 Aligning scientific collaboration with EU’s future development priorities
🔹 Strategies for inclusive and impactful science diplomacy

This roundtable will bring together policymakers, researchers, funding agencies, and stakeholders from Africa and Europe to foster dialogue and identify actionable pathways for collaboration.

Participation:
The meeting will be held in person in Brussels, with an option for virtual participation.

PROGRAMME

10:00 – 10:10      WELCOME ADDRESS                                                                                     

Tokozile Xasa, Ambassador: Embassy of the Republic of South Africa and Mission to the European Union

10:10 – 11:55  ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION

Moderator: Declan Kirrane, Managing Director, ISC Intelligence

Speakers (2 minutes interventions)

🔹 Vincenzo Lorusso, DG RTD, European Commission, Belgium

🔹 Martina Desole, European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL)

🔹 Yaya Sangare, Fund for Science, Technology and Innovation (FONSTI), Ivory Coast

🔹 Habtamu Abera Goshu, Chief Executive Officer of National Research Development, Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Ethiopia

🔹Lesego M. Thamae, Ministry of Communications and Innovation, Botswana

🔹Muhammad Sharif, Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Morocco

🔹Mosoka Fallah, Chief Scientist, Africa CDC, Ethiopia

🔹Lidia Borrell-Damian, Science Europe, Belgium

🔹Suzanne Dumouchel, OPERAS Social Sciences Research Infrastructure, France

🔹Conrad Rein, Crop Trust, Germany

🔹Wei Liu, UN Technology Facilitation Mechanism, USA

🔹Thandi Mgwebi, National Research Foundation South Africa;

🔹Andrea Konstantinidi, Africa Europe Foundation, Belgium

🔹Hambani Masheleni, UNESCO, Kenya

🔹Brian O’Connor, ECH Alliance, Ireland

🔹Aletha De Witt, AFAS, South Africa

🔹Ndemo Bitange, Kenyan Ambassador to Belgium

11:55  CLOSING       

Eudy Mabuza, Senior Science and Innovation Representative, Brussels Department of Science and Innovation, South Africa

📢 Register below to be part of this important conversation shaping the future of Africa-Europe scientific cooperation.