Session dedicated to the AU-EU Innovation Agenda in the spotlight at the 6th African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum

The session "Partnerships in Action: Bridging the funding gap to realize the AU-EU Innovation Agenda" is part of the program of the 6th African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum (ARSTIF), promoted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), which will focus on young innovators' access to funding, with the participation of international and regional funding institutes.

This session will take place in hybrid format, in Addis Ababa and online, next Monday April 22 from 12:00 to 14:30 (WEST), allowing for reflection on strategies to mobilize resources effectively, meeting the objectives set out in the AU-EU Innovation Agenda, with special emphasis on resolving funding gaps.

The AU-EU Innovation Agenda represents the new political pillar of cooperation in R&I between Africa and Europe, based on close collaboration over the last three years under the aegis of the EU-AU High-Level Political Dialogue on Science, Technology and Innovation(HLPD-STI), one of the political dialogues on science in which FCT represents Portugal.

Nine months after the adoption of this Agenda, this session aims to (i) provide a platform for stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue and exchange views on addressing funding gaps in the context of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda; (ii) identify good practices and innovative approaches to mobilize resources, support innovators and maximize the impact of funding initiatives; (iii) promote collaboration between institutions, innovators and funding bodies to increase the effectiveness of efforts to achieve the objectives of the Innovation Agenda; as well as (iv) generate recommendations and insights to inform policy development and decision-making processes at both regional and international levels, boosting AU-EU cooperation in research and innovation.

The session will feature high-level representatives from the EU and the AU, including the Co-Chair of the EU Delegation to the African Union, Laurent Bochereau, and the AU Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mohammed Belhocine, as well as the Team Leader of the Joint Research Center (JRC) of the European Commission, Angela Sarcina, the Director for Multilateral Cooperation in Africa at the Department of Science and Innovation, Republic of South Africa, Mandry Ntshani, the Director of Science, Technology and Innovation at the National Council for Research and Scientific Technologies of Algeria, Mokhtar Sellami, as well as the co-chair of the AU Development Agency, Lukovi Seke.

Registration for ARSTIF, including the session "Partnerships in Action: Bridging the funding gap to deliver the AU-EU Innovation Agenda" is open at: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_85uz2SfSTwe9qY3ZcBBlAQ#/registration