Project Title: The African Union-European Union Innovation Platform

Project Description:

The African Union-European Union Innovation Platform (henceforth: AEIP or Platform) builds a network of African and European stakeholders strengthening links between innovation ecosystems in an inclusive and collaborative manner, ensuring equal benefits (as per the CONNECT destination of the Horizon Europe 2023-2024 Work Programme).

The AEIP will be driven by the members of the consortium, many of whom collaborated successfully before on the Africa-Europe Innovation Partnership, an EU-funded initiative that paved the way for the AU-EU Innovation Agenda. Together, the consortium members cover all relevant stakeholder groups along the innovation value chain.

Figure 1: The Innovation Ecosystem, Stakeholders, and the AEIP

Furthermore, the AEIP will tap into networks of outreach organisations in Europe and Africa (Figure 1, outer green circle) to further increase impact. These will act as multipliers and bring their own networks as beneficiaries, and eventually members, to the AEIP. Many of the consortium members are already part of existing initiatives to be linked up to the platform.

The AEIP will stimulate collaboration among stakeholders and institutions implementing these other programmes, contributing to mutually beneficial partnerships. The focus will lie on launching new activities based on an assessment of the needs of all target groups, including researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, incubators/accelerators, civil society, women and youth. These will be activated through a combination of virtual outreach and in-person stakeholder meetings that will also provide a forum for discussion. Sustainability will be built into the AEIP from the start by ensuring that new activities are linked up and designed in such a way that they can be carried forward by AEIP members after the end of the Action.

We aim to grow the AEIP further into a ‘network of networks’ that acts as a hub for the Innovation Agenda, with its own online presence, reinforcing existing initiatives rather than duplicating them. By the end of the Action, this will lead to a rationalisation and better targeting of AU and EU initiatives in the Research and Innovation (R&I) sector, thus maximising the impact of funding and reinforcing interconnected innovation ecosystems for the benefit of society.

Key Approaches:

Integrating existing initiatives and coordinating with AU-EU High-Level Policy Dialogue to avoid duplication.
Acting as a multi-stakeholder meta-platform to strengthen partnerships and scale successful collaborations.
Piloting innovative approaches through thematic challenges to solve societal issues and build partnerships.
Prioritising citizen perspectives, especially women and youth, for inclusive and impactful innovations.
Ensuring equal-level partnerships for balanced knowledge exchange between African and European entities.
Adopting open science principles with accessible resources and secure handling of sensitive data.
Embedding communication strategies to enhance visibility and maximise impact.

Objectives:

The AEIP will support the AU-EU Innovation Agenda’s objective to strengthen R&I cooperation between the AU and the EU, thus contributing to sustainable and inclusive development, economic growth, and job creation.

Specific Objectives (SO)

Set up a consultative Platform fostering the links and networks between the business and government sectors, including public-private partnerships (PPPs), higher learning and research organisations (HEIs), financial institutions and civil society
Increase coherence of existing initiatives and activities, as well as propose new measures to enhance AU-EU research and innovation cooperation and thus contribute to the concrete implementation and development of new initiatives under the AU-EU Innovation Agenda in line with the socio-economic needs of the concerned countries/regions.
Design mechanisms to pro-actively involve citizens and marginalised groups in the innovation ecosystems
Bolstering knowledge transfer through capacity building, twinning and mobility opportunities in the priority areas of the AU-EU cooperation in R&I while fostering the development of high-performing digital education systems and upgrade digital skills and competences for the digital transformation.
Develop policy intelligence for priority-setting i.e. identifying technology fields that could benefit from standardisation, and synergies of investment plans (public and private) involving the diaspora and indigenous knowledge Discuss sustainable policies and regulation in the Communities of practise that enhance scientific advisory capacities and favours long-term development.
Improve investment readiness and access to the use of innovative financial engineering.

Operational Objectives (OO)

Map the existing AU-EU innovation ecosystem and activities, their needs, challenges and aspirations, and make recommendations on how to address them.
Set up a sustainable technical Platform for all stakeholders of the value chain where they can meet, get informed about existing and new activities, and build partnerships.
Organise in-person and virtual events that will encourage stakeholders to work together.
Monthly communication updates about the Platform (including via newsletter)
Cross-reference existing activities, trainings, and events on the Platform so that every stakeholder can benefit. (T2.2)
Create thematic challenges and matchmaking sessions to facilitate interactions between different target groups and bolster new partnerships.
Boost active citizen involvement in the innovation process and innovative businesses so that innovation responds to real societal needs.
Provide dedicated opportunities and spaces for youth, women, and the African diaspora to increase their participation in the innovation value chain.
Develop training and mobility schemes for stakeholders on internationalisation strategies, knowledge transfer mechanisms, turning research into products, business skills, financing mechanisms, etc.
Foster the development of high- performing digital education systems and upgrade digital skills and competences for the digital transformation. (T4.3)
Provide de-risking support to Eureka- funded SMEs by supporting investment readiness, providing funding through matchmaking sessions and thus accelerating time-to-market.
Encourage entrepreneurship and effective technology transfer through capacity building and navigational support for internationalising.

Project Duration: 30 Months

Project Budget: 2,493,671.25 (Euros)

Funder: European Commission.

Project Implementing Partners

Technopolis BV, Technopolis Africa, Technopolis Deutschland GMBH, Arctik Srl, African Centre for Technology Studies, African Technology Innovation Hubs, Association of African Universities, Digital Africa, Enrich in Africa Centre Pty Ltd, European Business and Innovation Centre Network Aisbl, Institut für Qualifizierende Innovationsforschung und -beratung GmbH, Southern African Research & Innovation Management Association, Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação Consultadoria Empresarial e Fomento da Inovação SA, The Youth Café Ltd, and VC4Africa BV.

Location/ Target area

Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire

Target Groups

Public authorities and government: AU-EU High Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD) (and Working Groups), The Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), The Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), African Union Development Agency - New Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA NEPAD), regulation authorities, governments, etc.
Academia, research and technology organisations (public and private), and think tanks.
Innovation labs, technology transfer, and capacity-building organisations.
Start-ups and SMEs, innovators, incubators, accelerators, and business support organisations (BSOs).
Private and financial actors, international finance, and investors.
NGOs, CSOs, civil society, youth, women, and African diaspora associations.

Expected results/ outcome

1. A Consultative Platform Fostering Links and Networks Between All Stakeholder Groups

The project envisions the creation of a vibrant and collaborative platform that connects governments, businesses, research institutions, financial bodies, and civil society. This platform will act as a central hub, enabling stakeholders to exchange insights, collaborate on shared objectives, and strengthen partnerships, thus driving innovation and cooperation within the AU-EU ecosystem.

2. Increased Coherence of Existing Initiatives and Activities, and New Concrete Measures to Implement the AU-EU Innovation Agenda’s Short-Term Actions

Efforts will focus on harmonizing ongoing activities and initiatives to maximize their impact. By identifying synergies and addressing gaps, the project aims to propose actionable strategies that align with the AU-EU Innovation Agenda’s goals. This approach ensures that resources are optimized, fostering greater alignment and effectiveness across innovation-driven programs.

3. New Mechanisms to Proactively Involve Citizens and Marginalized Groups in Innovation Ecosystems

To ensure inclusivity, the project will introduce innovative approaches that enable citizens and marginalized groups to actively engage with innovation ecosystems. These mechanisms, such as targeted outreach, capacity-building programs, and participatory workshops, will empower diverse communities to contribute to and benefit from innovation processes, aligning with societal needs.

4. Enhanced Training Programs and Mobility in the Priority Areas of AU-EU Cooperation in Research and Innovation (R&I)

Strengthening skills and knowledge transfer is a key priority. The initiative will develop and implement robust training programs tailored to the priority areas of AU-EU cooperation, including digital transformation and climate resilience. Additionally, mobility opportunities, such as exchange programs, will facilitate cross-border collaboration and foster the sharing of expertise.

5. Policy Intelligence for Inclusive Innovation Policies

Generating actionable insights to guide policy development is at the core of this goal. By leveraging data analysis and stakeholder input, the project will support the creation of inclusive innovation policies. These policies will address challenges such as equitable participation, integration of indigenous knowledge, and diaspora involvement, ensuring that innovation benefits all sectors of society.

6. Improved Investment Readiness and Access to the Use of Innovative Financial Engineering

Advancing entrepreneurship and fostering economic growth will be achieved through tailored support for startups and SMEs. Activities include enhancing investment readiness, offering guidance on financial strategies, and facilitating access to innovative financing options like blended finance. This approach will accelerate the commercialization of ideas and strengthen the innovation landscape.