Forty-four African researchers from 38 African countries have been awarded five-year fellowships of up to €500,000 each to start their independent research teams and deliver cutting-edge research through the African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence (ARISE) programme.
The €25 million (US$26 million) programme, which drew close to 1,000 applications in a funing call announced mid last year by African Academy of Sciences (AAS), was launched on 15 June, with an appeal to grantees to conduct world-class research that will help to, not only solve the continent’s development challenges, but also have an impact on the world.
Funded by the European Union, the ARISE programme is implemented by AAS with the European Commission and the African Union Commission as strategic oversight partners.
According to the Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, Investing in higher education and research to create a knowledge-based society and economy in Africa is a key priority of the Global Gateway investment package for Africa.
The research will be focused on four priority areas previously agreed between the partners at the AU-EU high level policy dialogue on science, technology and innovation forums – public health, green transition, innovation and technology, and building capacities for science
The grantees will do research using their own independent research teams at an African university or research institution, and are also expected to contribute to transforming Africa into a knowledge-based and innovation-led continent.
Photo courtesy / AAS
Articles by Jedidah Mwangi
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