The EU is deepening, with the fourth batch of research funding for joint EU-Africa projects in health, agriculture, democracy and raw materials, its ties with its neighboring continent. €605.45 million has been announced as a final R&I investment for the Africa Initiative under Horizon Europe. The EU has supported the initiative, including this final instalment, so far with €1.7 billion.
Starting in 2010, the EU and the African Union deepened their R&I relations with a joint agreement. Ten years later the following 4 priority fields for cooperation were defined: innovation and technology, the green transition, public health, and capacities for science and higher education. In 2023, a joint innovation agenda for the upcoming decade was signed.
Calls under the Africa Initiative require or strongly ask for the participation of African researchers and target the following 6 priority areas: Health, culture and democracy, digital and industry, climate, food and nature, and research infrastructures. Here you can find all the calls of the initiative: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenderstrue&status=31094501,31094502&programmePeriod=2021%20-%202027&frameworkProgramme=43108390&crossCuttingPriorities=Africa
Horizon Europe calls are in many cases open for African involvement. Egypt and Tunisia are associated to the EU funding programme for research and innovation, and many African states have been defined as “low- and middle-income countries” by the European Commission, which allows applicants from these countries to participate in calls under the same funding conditions as researchers from the EU. Click here to
Are you looking for suitable partners for a call under the Africa Initiative? Or are you otherwise interested in EU-Africa cooperation under Horizon Europe? Then you should visit our table at the upcoming “KoWi Annual Conference (BuTa)” in Leipzig. The Buta will take place on June 16–18, 2026, at the University of Leipzig. Save the date and register on time! Based on past experience, the 350 spots fill up quickly. Further information regarding the BuTa can be found on the official KoWi website: https://www.kowi.de/en/kowi/services/training-events/annual-conference/kowi-annual-conference-on-eu-research-innovation-funding.aspx