In a significant step toward enhancing scientific diplomacy and global knowledge exchange, the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster cross-continental research collaboration and institutional capacity building.
The agreement, signed in Vienna by AAS President Prof. Lise Korsten and OeAW President Prof. Heinz Fassmann, with Vice President Prof. Ulrike Diebold in attendance, marks a new chapter in African-European academic cooperation. The partnership is focused on facilitating researcher mobility, strengthening mentorship between senior and early-career scientists, and expanding long-term collaborative projects across both regions.
“This is not just an agreement on paper; it is a statement of intent,” said Prof. Korsten. “We are building a framework where scientific talent can flow freely, ideas can be jointly nurtured, and Africa’s research strengths can be showcased in global contexts.”
Unlike conventional research partnerships, the MoU is designed to break disciplinary boundaries by emphasising intergenerational mentorship and mutual academic enrichment. It aims to match African and Austrian researchers in co-mentorship models that encourage shared learning and cross-cultural scientific exploration.
The partnership comes at a time when Africa’s scientific community is undergoing rapid growth, spurred by increased investment in research infrastructure, a rising number of early-career scientists, and a push for greater international engagement. However, challenges such as limited access to global research networks and funding still hinder progress, making alliances like this critical to expanding Africa’s scientific influence.
For OeAW, the MoU is a gateway to deeper engagement with one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse research landscapes. “Scientific progress knows no boundaries,” said Prof. Fassmann. “By forging closer ties with Africa’s leading scientific body, we not only gain access to diverse perspectives and research environments—we also fulfil a shared responsibility to promote science as a global good.”
The MoU aligns with ongoing efforts by the African Union and European Union to foster science diplomacy, equitable research partnerships, and co-development. It also echoes AAS’s recent collaboration with India’s National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, underscoring its strategy of forming high-impact global alliances.
As both academies take on a more prominent role in shaping international scientific dialogue, this partnership serves as a model for how institutional cooperation can drive inclusive and sustainable research advancement.
Article by Nyokabi Wanjiku
Photo/Google
Comment