EU-Africa cooperation on science, technology

and innovation

FP7 & H2020

Nienke Buisman, DG RTD ISC breakfast meeting at EP Brussels, 21 January 2015

EU Research & Innovation

Policy Research and Innovation

Contents

• EU-Africa cooperation on science, technology and innovation

• Africa in EU Research Framework Programme 7

• Developing countries in Horizon 2020

• Policy context: EU-Africa High Level Policy Dialogue

• STI in European Year for Development 2015

Policy Research and Innovation

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EU-Africa cooperation on science,

technology and innovation

Research and Innovation

• EU and Africa are strong partners in cooperating on science, technology and innovation

• Cooperation based on equal partnership, common interest and mutual benefit.

EU-Africa cooperation on STI

Research and Innovation

• Contributes to objectives EU international cooperation strategy on R&I (2012)

• Strengthens knowledge-based societies and enhances the development and deployment of effective solutions for the societal challenges of common concern

• Contributes to reaching international commitments we have set ourselves such as the Millennium Development Goals and the future post-2015 agenda and sustainable development goals.

EU-Africa cooperation on STI-2

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Research and Innovation

Africa in EU Research Framework Programme 7

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Policy Research and Innovation

Africa in Framework Programme 7

• Not development aid!

• But very open to international cooperation

• Africa in FP7– number 1

• 45 countries involved

• 1315 participations in 569 projects

• total EU-funding received: €189 million

• Mainly (77%) in Cooperation programme (€145.9m)

• Mainly in Health, Agro-food & Environment

Policy Research and Innovation

AFRICA in FP7: Leading participants (projects)

Research and Innovation

• Earth observation: several European and African countries are partnering in the Group on Earth Observation (GEO). To be explored: collaboration on initiatives such as the AfriGEOSS and Africa-EU GEO related cooperation.

• Global health: the EU and several countries in Africa are cooperating on clinical trials research on poverty-related diseases and neglected tropical diseases in ‘the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership programme (EDCTP)

• Research Infrastructures: The EU and South Africa are strong collaborators in the development of the Square Kilometre Array

3 Flagships of the cooperation

Research and Innovation

ERAFRICA: 15 EU and African countries established 3 joint calls for 11 M€

17 projects started in September

Initial EC Contribution: 2 M €

2010-2013

CAAST-NET Plus: Enhance African participation in H2020

Societal challenges - Food security; Climate change; Health

January 2013-2017

EC Contribution: 4 M €

Important projects

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Policy Research and Innovation

RTD Evaluation study - 2015

To map, assess and draw lessons from FP7 funded research and innovation for and on development as well as with researchers from developing countries

To identify venues for building stronger EU engagement with excellent research in developing countries

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Policy Research and Innovation

Developing countries in

Horizon 2020

The new EU programme for Research and Innovation

(2014-2020)

Policy Research and Innovation

HORIZON 2020: Open to the world GENERAL OPENNESS

Not development aid!

Horizon 2020 is open to

participation of researchers from

anywhere in the world, to:

Extend the frontiers of scientific knowledge

Tackle challenges that affect us all

Make industries more competitive

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Research and Innovation

• Several relevant examples of calls:

• Research Infrastructure • Vaccine development for poverty-related and

neglected infectious diseases • Sustainable intensification pathways of agro-food

systems in Africa • Coordinating and supporting research and innovation

for climate action • Low-energy solutions for drinking water production • Strenghtening international R&I cooperation in the

field of water – Development of water supply and sanitation technology, systems and tools and/or methodologies

H2020 – work programme 2014/2015

Policy Research and Innovation

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Policy context

Research and Innovation

• EU-Africa cooperation on STI embedded in JAES, adopted by EU-Africa Summit 2007

• EU-Africa High Level Policy Dialogue on STI since 2010

• Two meetings: 2011 and 2013

• EU-Africa Summit 2014 showcased convergent views between EU and Africa on enabling role of STI in creating growth and employment

• STI still has important role in JAES

• Priority of cooperation on role of STI in promoting food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture

EU-Africa High Level Policy Dialogue - 1

Research and Innovation

• Expert Working Group (EWG) formed (5 African & 5 European) to develop a roadmap towards jointly financed Partnership

• Rationale of the Partnership:

• Many investments are already being made – high on global agenda - but fragmentation of efforts

• Europe and Africa share problems and goals, with different dimensions (development versus agro-environmental)

• Innovation can arise in Africa and Europe: sharing, adaptation and implementation is a clear win-win for both

EU-Africa R&I Partnership

Research and Innovation

• Added-value of the Partnership:

• Build on recent bilateral and multilateral AR and AR4D projects and efforts in capacity-building

• Enhanced coordination of relevant research and innovation

• Broader mobilisation of STI community in Europe and Africa

• Joint design, management and funding of programme

• Direct linkage of research and innovation

EU-Africa R&I Partnership-2

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Research and Innovation

• EWG has prepared an advanced draft input to roadmap

• Focus on:

• Sustainable intensification

• Agriculture and food systems for nutrition

• Expansion and improvement of agricultural markets and trade

• Cross-cutting issues: innovation, capacity-building, research infrastructures

EU-Africa R&I Partnership-3

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Research and Innovation

• Next steps:

• External consultation to:

• Test added value in current cooperation phase

• Enlarge ownership of R&I Partnership to private sector and civil society

• Discussion amongst policy-makers and funding bodies on implementation.

• Kick-off support project RINEA

EU-Africa R&I Partnership - 4

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Research and Innovation

STI in European Year for Development 2015

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Research and Innovation

• Showcase FP7 project results of cooperation between EU and developing countries at European Development Days and EYD2015 website

• Roundtable on STI in promoting food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture in context of EU-Africa HLPD at EXPO 2015

• Conference at European Parliament on socio-economic benefits of investment in STI in developing countries with FP7 success stories

• Publication on success stories of EU-Africa cooperation in STI under FP7

RTD plans for EYD2015

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HORIZON 2020

Find out more: www.ec.europa.eu/horizon2020

HORIZON 2020

Open to the world!

Thank You!

© photos: photalia