Skip to main content
Research and innovation
News article18 February 2022Directorate-General for Research and Innovation

New EU-AU Innovation Agenda to drive sustainable growth and jobs

Today, the European and African State Leaders jointly acknowledged the development of an EU-AU Innovation Agenda, strategically designed to support sustainable growth and jobs, in particular for the youth.

As part of the Global Gateway Investment Package, the Innovation Agenda has four main objectives: translate innovative capacities and results into tangible outputs; strengthen innovation ecosystems; develop sustainable and mutually beneficial higher education and R&I partnerships; scale-up instruments and programmes that can take forward existing successful initiatives.

Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel said:

The cornerstone of the Innovation Agenda supports education, research and innovation. As an integral part of the Global Gateway Investment Package, the EU and AU Heads of States reconfirm the central role of research and innovation and Horizon Europe in the overall cooperation between the EU and Africa.

To reinforce public participation, transparency, and inclusion, the European and African Union Commissions launched a large consultation on the AU-EU Innovation Agenda, at the recent EU-Africa Business Forum.

In addition, a report published by the Advisory Group on the future of EU-Africa Research and Innovation cooperation set out their recommendations on how best to mainstream and boost R&I cooperation in four specific areas: health systems; R&I capacities; innovation and technology and green transition. The EU-AU Innovation Agenda includes evidence from this group of independent experts, working in Europe and in Africa.

Background

In May 2021, the Commission adopted a Communication on its Global Approach to Research and Innovation, Europe's strategy for international cooperation in a changing world. With this, the EU aims to take a leading role in supporting international research and innovation partnerships, and to deliver innovative solutions to make our societies green, digital and healthy.

The Global Gateway draws on the new financial tools in the EU multi-annual financial framework 2021-2027. The Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI)-Global Europe, the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) III, as well as Interreg, InvestEU and the EU research and innovation programme Horizon Europe; all allow the EU to leverage public and private investments in priority areas, including connectivity.

More information

EU-Africa cooperation in research and innovation

International cooperation in research and innovation

Video

Details

Publication date
18 February 2022
Author
Directorate-General for Research and Innovation