Africa is set to benefit from a budget of €95.5 billion set aside by the European Commission (EU) for advancement in research and innovation under the Horizon Europe framework. The fund's research and innovation activities are organized in 6 clusters with different areas of intervention including: environmental observation, biodiversity and natural resources, agriculture, forestry and rural areas, seas, oceans and inland waters, food systems, bio-based innovation systems in the EU's bioeconomy and lastly circular systems.
Horizon Europe houses Africa Initiative which will see to it that Africa-Europe collaborations are better enhanced. The program will help researchers and innovators have a great chance to bring their innovations into the limelight.
According to the European commission Director for international cooperation in research and innovation- Maria Cristina Russo, The African-Europe cooperation comes at an opportune time when European commission is making milestones towards being ambitious research and innovation programme in the world.
Russo has echoed the need for African scientists to participate in the Africa Initiative through applying the calls within Horizon Europe. On her part, EU will be spearheading excellent science, industrial leadership as well as tackling societal challenges.
EU will fund strategic projects that are targeted at finding locally-adapted solutions to challenges that are global in nature, but often hit Africa the hardest. Researchers will have a platform to exhibit their homegrown solutions to societal problems.
Horizon Europe is the EU’s research and innovation framework programme running from 2021-2027. It has a budget of €95.5 billion for the period of seven years hence making it a comprehensive innovation in research.
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Article by Kefa Lemaiyan
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