South Africa

South Africa is the EU’s biggest partner in research and Innovation in Africa, and it is the first among African countries in participating to Horizon Europe. South Africa is an active member of the meetings of the Bureau of the AU-EU High-Level Policy Dialogue on STI, and played an important role in the development of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda, hosting in Cape Town the first ever AU-EU Innovation Festival in June 2023. 

The EU and South Africa have enjoyed over 25 years of fruitful and successful cooperation in science, technology and innovation, with a bilateral Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement in force since November 1997.

Bilateral scientific collaboration is monitored and facilitated by the Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee (JSTCC) established under the Agreement on Science and Technology, which is embedded into the joint overall EU-South Africa Strategic Partnership.

The Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee (JSTCC) monitors and facilitates cooperation between South Africa and the EU. The last JSTCC meeting took place on 12 April 2019, and the next one took place in Pretoria on 27 November 2024.

Areas of cooperation

• Health: European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDTCP)
• Green Transition: Group on Earth Observations (GEO); Climate Change and Sustainable Energy (CCSE) Partnership; Food, Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) Partnership 
• Healthy oceans and Seas: All Atlantic Ocean R&I Alliance (AAORIA) 
• Innovation and Technology: Square Kilometre Array (SKA); European South African Science and Technology Advancement Programme (ESASTAP); ENRICH in Africa Center; EUREKA

Horizon Europe is open to the world, which means that participants from all over the world can participate in most calls. The EU can fund the participation in Horizon Europe collaborative research actions of entities established in EU Member States, in countries Associated to Horizon Europe, and in certain third countries, including South Africa.

Cooperation with African countries under Horizon Europe is further highlighted through the Africa Initiative II, which encourages cooperation with African Union partners in several topics of the work programme.

In addition, South African researchers are eligible for EU funding through the European Research Council and Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (see below).

European Research Council

The European Research Council offers grants to researchers in all research domains for frontier research. South African researchers are welcome to apply and if selected are eligible for funding to establish a research group in Europe. Grants are available for researchers starting or consolidating their independent career and for advanced researchers.

Synergy grants are also available, where a group of 2-4 Principal Investigators (PIs) may include one PI outside the EU or countries associated to Horizon Europe, to tackle together an ambitious research problem, with all funded by the ERC.

Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions

Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions offer fellowships for post-doctoral researchers from South Africa (and other countries) to spend up to 2 years in a European group – or for European researchers to spend up to 2 years in a South African group. Also offers opportunities for South African institutions to participate in Doctoral Training Networks and Staff Exchange consortia.

EU-funded research projects involving South Africa

You can also visit the Horizon Dashboard, which is a one-stop shop for data and statistics on the EU Research and Innovation Programmes – from FP1 to Horizon Europe.

National Contact Points

The National Contact Points (NCPs) provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe.

Research enquiry service

You can contact the research enquiry service to find out more about research in Europe, the EU's research and innovation funding programmes as well as calls for proposals and project funding.

European Commission

RTD-04-ASSISTec [dot] europa [dot] eu (DG Research and Innovation unit 04: International cooperation)

EURAXESS Africa

EURAXESS Africa provides access to a complete range of information and support services for researchers in African countries wishing to pursue a research career in Europe or looking for collaboration opportunities through Horizon Europe.