ERAfrica. Cooperation

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1 News Bulletin 1/2012 ERAfrica New Knowledge Partnerships Associated countries Technology Science Member states Collaboration FP7 Joint calls Capacities Development Cooperation Networking Research ERAfrica is funded under FP7 Project number: FP I Programme: Capacities I Instrument: Coordination Action

2 Preface From Pretoria to Helsinki via Alexandria: Following ERAfrica s Journey to advance EU-Africa cooperation in Science and Technology With a growing scientific and technological research capacity and abundance of natural resources, Africa is demonstrating a strong potential to rise as a prominent player in the economic arena. After a long history of colonization and exploitation of the continent s resources and wealth, the African populations are expressing a sturdy will to accelerate their political, economic and technological advance and integration in the modern international community. Realizing this aspiration is getting closer through true partnerships and coordinated networking efforts. In this regard, the EU has expressed the desire and determination to engage in Africa s endeavors and become its main partner in development. joint activities. There will still be, however, a chance for more partners to join as there is another meeting scheduled in Helsinki in June So, for those who would like to join ERAfrica funding partners, we announce that the train has left the station in Alexandria with one more stop in Cape town before reaching its final destination in Helsinki. You can still get on board.. By facilitating research collaboration and knowledge partnership among academic institutions, research authorities and national/international development agencies, ERAfrica is instrumental in enhancing Science and Technology cooperation between Africa and Europe in a distinctive manner, allowing both regions to work in close collaboration on a defined agenda extending beyond traditional development cooperation. Operating in the spirit of true partnership, co-ownership and joint investment, and with the vision of exploiting this partnership to its fullest potential, ERAfrica kicked off in December 2010 in Pretoria. To further define the cooperation agenda and engage the programme owners in both Africa and the EU, two meetings in Mombasa and Brussels were held during This was followed by a meeting in Lisbon in November 2011 to reflect on the outputs of these meetings and pledge funding from the consortium members. The first of a series of workshops to identify research topics of common interest and agree on the implementation modalities and instruments has successfully taken place in Alexandria last January. Alexandria represents a milestone in the project path; the outcomes of the meeting exceeded expectations providing insight on the interest and willingness of both African and European programme owners to fund joint activities, pledging generous finance for several research areas, including energy and other interfacing challenges. Our next stop is Stellenbosch, Cape town, where the ERAfrica partners and committed programme owners are meeting at the end of March to fine tune their views vis-à-vis responding to the details of developing the call for proposals and further mobilize support of African and European Programme owners who are willing to join our Dr. A. Hamid El-Zoheiry, Coordinator of International Cooperation, Ministry of Scientific Research, Egypt

3 Reports from ERAfrica Events ERAfrica Meeting to Elaborate Upon Joint Activities to be Funded January 18-19, 2012, Alexandria, Egypt In the great library of Alexandria (Egypt) a consortium meeting of the European Commission-sponsored ERAfrica project was held on the 18th and 19th of January The meeting was also attended by a number of non-consortium members - from both Africa and Europe - interested in participating in the project s eventual funding of joint research projects. In one of the venue s so-called floating rooms, suspended high above the massive main repository and its endless shelves of books, long lines of computer terminals and library patrons coming and going in otherworldly silence, the meeting attendees signaled their support for each of the proposed research topics, selected two months before in Lisbon, eventually to be funded as part of an ERAfrica joint call for proposals. To general satisfaction each topic attracted not only sufficient interest but also enough of a preliminary financial commitment (in excess of 2 million each) to justify its retention as subject for investment. The final list of themes to be funded consisting of: Renewable Energy, Interfacing Challenges (i.e. research projects concentrating on a combination of two or more global challenges at the interface point between them), and Idea-Driven Research (that is, new ideas in any discipline, particularly marked by original and innovative thinking). Given that the total amount already pledged comes to about 8 million, and that a number of consortium members and other interested parties have not yet signaled the exact scope of their anticipated investment, it is now all but certain that the eventual amount of funding to be allocated to joint projects under the banner of an ERAfrica call for proposals will exceed 10 million euros. In addition, whereas the project consortium at the outset numbered 13 institutions from 12 countries (Austria, Belgium, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Kenya, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey), following the Alexandria meeting this number seems set to grow quite considerably, with definite interest already expressed by Côte d Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Uganda and Norway, and high hopes held also for participation by Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria and Tanzania, all of which were invited to the followup meeting at the end of March in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Already in Alexandria the first discussions were undertaken regarding funding criteria, evaluation processes and application modalities. These are to be pursued for much of the year ahead at a series of meetings to follow, each with expanded participation as more and more countries and institutions join a GFP and, through their financial commitment, obtain a share in the planning process. Indeed, the door to participation will remain open until the actual launching of the call, so there is still plenty of time for interested parties to join, no minimum amount of investment having been set and thus ensuring that smaller Participants at the meeting in Alexandria, Egypt

4 countries and institutions will not be excluded based on an inability to match the funding provided by the larger funders. In this way ERAfrica is a true north-south (and interregional) partnership, with everyone contributing what they can, and all contributions guaranteeing equal participation. This of course is particularly significant to Africa which, through initiatives such as ERAfrica, can finally bid farewell to its role as perpetual aid recipient, and embrace instead an equal status as full partner with its European counterparts. This ERAfrica consortium meeting has been held in Alexandria, Egypt. The meeting attendees signaled their support for a number of research topics to be funded as part of an ERAfrica joint call for proposals: Renewable Energy, Interfacing Challenges (i.e. research projects concentrating on a combination of two or more global challenges at the interface point between them), and Idea-Driven Research (that is, new ideas in any discipline, particularly marked by innovative thinking). Participants at the meeting in Stellenbosch, South Africa Combined Stakeholder Workshop and Consultation with African Organisations and Interested Programme Owners March, 2012, Stellenbosch, South Africa ERAfrica CALL FOR PROPOSALS CONTINUES TO TAKE SHAPE From its pivotal meeting in Lisbon in November 2011, where the themes to be funded as part of an eventual ERAfrica call for proposals were selected, and passing by another conference in Alexandria in January 2012, where initial funding interest and the financial scope of the call were defined, the ERAfrica project most recently drew together its stakeholders at a follow-up event in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Here, amid the vineyards and traditional Cape-Dutch style houses the project consortium and other potential funders set about clarifying and refining the administrative processes and related details to govern the call, the evaluation of received project proposals and the selection of viable submissions for funding. In short, it was a technical meeting. Stretching over three days, from 28 to 30 March the event, for all its later complexity, nevertheless began, as most ERAfrica meetings, with a general introduction to the project, specifically designed for the small number of invited newcomers, interested parties granted participation based on prospects of potential future interest or for bringing the insights of specific expertise to the discussions. Following this, the narrative shifted quickly to more specialised aspects related to the actual funding of research, the main objective of the ERAfrica project and a process set to start in early Passing from debates around the nature and composition of the administrative organ designated to manage the funding to discussions on proposal submission systems, evaluation mechanisms and ultimate project selection, the entire spectrum of research grant-making was subjected to intense scrutiny and adaptation to the ERAfrica context, with the sometimes difficult and often heated interactions paying off in the end with the definition of a clear format going forward. Of course, for all the intensity of the work done, as always everyone enjoyed the counterweight of after-hours socialising during communal dinners organised by joint hosts the South African Department of Science and Technology and the French Institute for Research for Development. These outings allowed participants not only to see some of the sights in and around Stellenbosch and nearby Cape Town, but also to continue their discussions in a more informal way, with points raised over meals often allowing for deeper and more meaningful exchanges around the conference table the next day.

5 Thus there was almost no time not devoted to some extent to ERAfrica, testament to the devotion of all parties to the project and its success. Looking back on the three days, this was not a meeting of spectacular announcements or critical decisions, yet one of those background encounters making the former possible, a setting of the stage and laying of the foundations for the next big steps in the project s lifecycle. Having now put the administrative framework for project funding in place, the next phase is to submit to equal scrutiny the themes selected for funding (renewable energy, interfaces between global challenges, idea-driven research), both defining and refining these to the point where a proper call document and terms of reference for each can be assembled, ready for publication. This phase will be the work of the next few months, to be pursued virtually and then brought to culmination at the next project meeting to take place mid-june in Helsinki, Finland. At that meeting too it is expected that at least a few new partners will announce their participation in ERAfrica, while existing partners will no doubt be able to give a much clearer idea of the scope of their own contributions. In this regard, obtaining a minimum of 10 million euros for project funding remains a target while, in terms of participation, a major mobilisation effort between now and then aims at drawing much more interest from both continents. Thus, in ERAfrica the present is still prologue, with the best very much still to come. Participating African institutions: Ministère de la Recherche Scientifique et de l Innovation, Burkina Faso Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research, Egypt Ministry of Higher Education, Science & Technology, Kenya Ministry of Education, Namibia Department of Science and Technology, South Africa Department of Trade and Industry, South Africa Medical Research Council, South Africa National Research Foundation, South Africa South African National Energy Development Institute, South Africa Participating European institutions: The conference room in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Commission for Development Studies at the OeAD-GmbH, Austria German Organisation for International Cooperation, Germany International Bureau of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy, Finland University of Jyväskylä, Finland Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, France Research Council of Norway, Norway Swiss National Science Foundation, Switzerland The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, Turkey

6 ERAfrica makes a difference A major new approach to fund African European research and innovation partnerships Opportunity for funders of African-European cooperation to join forces with this ground-breaking initiative ERAfrica makes a difference A major new approach to fund African European research and innovation partnerships Opportunity for funders of African-European cooperation to join forces with this ground-breaking initiative ERAfrica facilitates networking of African and European funders of research and innovation working together to jointly finance research and innovation partnerships between the two continents. The network presently consists of ministries and public funding institutions from countries such as Austria, Belgium, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Kenya, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey. A wave of new partners, from for example Uganda, Cote d Ivoire, Norway and Burkina Faso, are currently considering to commit funding for the ERAfrica activities. Over the past year, experienced African and European funders have reached several milestone agreements regarding the focus and operational modalities of an upcoming competitive Joint Call for Project Proposals planned for end of 2012 or beginning of 2013: With regard to the thematic focus, the funders have agreed to target their funding at three priority areas: Renewable energy: research and innovation for renewable electricity generation, fuel production, heating and cooling. These activities will address Africa and Europe s shared societal, industrial and environmental interests to develop sustainable economies. Interfacing Challenges : research to better understand and address the interfaces between different societal challenges such as assuring food security, fighting pandemic disease, managing climate change, promoting inclusive information societies, etc. Activities will be aligned with the global Rio+20 sustainable development agenda. Idea driven : curiosity driven, cutting-edge collaborative research and innovation, irrespective of the theme chosen. Novelty and impact matters. Interested in joining? African and European, or multinational, public or private, funders of research and innovation are invited to shape and refine the scope of the novel approach. Contact us at: info@erafrica.eu Further information on ERAfrica: Currently more than 10 million have been mobilised to fund project consortia necessarily including both African and European partners significantly the majority of this funding is from African funders; Cutting-edge collaborative research, joint innovation activities resulting in new products, processes and services as well as capacity building measures will be eligible for funding; Implementation of the Call at highest international standards including an independent peer review of proposals is foreseen; A common management structure for the administration of the call and monitoring of projects will be created,

7 About Next Steps ERAfrica Consortium Institut de Recherche pour le Développement / IRD (France) Commission for Development studies at the Austrian Agency for International Cooperation in Education and Reseach / KEF-OeAD (Austria) Conseil interuniversitaire de la Communauté francaise de Belgique + Commission universitaire pour le Développement / CIUF + CUD (Belgium) Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research / MHESR (Egypt) Työ-ja elinkeinoministeriö (Finnish ministry of Employment and the Economy) / TEM (Finland) International Bureau of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research / PT-DLR (Germany) Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung / BMBF (Germany) Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology / MOST-KE (Kenya) Ministério de Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior. Fundacao para a Ciência e Tecnologia / FCT (Portugal) Department of Science and Technology / DST South Africa) Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación / MICINN (Spain) Swiss National Science Foundation / SNSF (Switzerland) The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey / TÜBITAK (Turkey) Important meetings in the near future Scoping and elaboration of Joint Activities / SAC SMB Meeting Venue: Helsinki, Finland Date: June 11-13, 2012 Open to all funding parties and interested potential funders. Contact: Sabrina Legies: sabrina.legies@dlr.de Developing principles + key docs for JA Venue: Bonn, Germany Date: September 2012 (not fixed) Open to all funders. Contact: Sabrina Legies: sabrina.legies@dlr.de Our aims are to: Establish a long-term framework for communication, collaboration and coordination of programme owners/ managers related to S&T co-operation from Europe and Africa. Reinforce EU-Africa S&T collaboration by promoting joint learning by African and European research programme owners and managers and identifying relevant instruments to address more effectively the global challenges of sustainable development. Develop joint funding schemes and procedures between European and African programme owners aiming at supporting joint activities. Strengthen African research capacities and improve the impact of research for development in Africa. Strengthening the impact and the influence of S&T research implies enhancing the transfer of new knowledge to the benefit of society. It also implies the achievement of greater coherence between research outputs and policies and funding instruments in other areas than research. Are you interested in receiving ERAfrica newsletters? Register at or Write to info@erafrica.eu

8 Imprint: Commission for Development Studies at the OeAD-GmbH (Office) Ebendorferstrasse Vienna Dr. Mattias Larsen, mattias.larsen@oead.at Matthias Weissgram, matthias.weissgram@oead.at Graphic design: Urban Grünfelder ERAfrica is funded under FP7 Project number: FP Programme: Capacities Instrument: Coordination Action The sole responsibility for the content of of this news bulletin lies with the authors and does not represent the opinion of the European Union. Neither the authors nor the European Union are liable for any use made thereof.