From ideas to solutions: connecting Africa and Europe’s innovation ecosystems
The African Union–European Union (AU-EU) High-Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD) on Science, Technology and Innovation sets long-term policy priorities for research and innovation cooperation. The Joint AU-EU Innovation Agenda, adopted in July 2023, builds on this policy cooperation through a ten-year programme of actions across Public Health, Green Transition, Innovation and Technology, Capacities for Science and Cross-cutting issues. Its aim is to help turn research and innovation into products, services, businesses and jobs in Africa and Europe.
Building connections that help innovation grow
A range of initiatives supports innovators at different stages, from developing an idea to preparing it for the market.
The annual AU-EU Innovation Fairs connect researchers and start-ups with investors, companies and potential partners. Four editions held between 2022 and 2025 presented 139 innovative solutions and attracted more than 1,900 participants. This sequence will continue with the AU-EU-Med Innovation Fair to be held on 25 November at CIHEAM Bari, Italy, with a specific focus on transformative solutions in the area of food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture. Beyond these events, selected start-ups have received tailored support in areas such as investment readiness, intellectual property, mentoring, pilot funding and regulatory guidance. This support helps reduce the risks that can deter investors or prevent promising products from reaching the market.
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Digital platforms extend these connections and facilitate this continuous de-risking beyond individual events. The Africa-Europe Innovation Platform (AEIP) acts as a network of networks, linking organisations and stakeholders across innovation ecosystems on both continents, providing investment readiness and capacity building opportunities. The ENRICH in Africa Center, operating from Cape Town, and is Virtual Community Platform connects entrepreneurs and innovation-support organisations with the investors, while the Africa-Europe Digital Innovation Bridge (AEDIB) supports cooperation among digital innovation ecosystems. The Strengthening the Europe-Africa Digital Ecosystem through Increased Research and Innovation Cooperation (SEADE) project has further developed this support by bringing together digital tools, services and opportunities through the ENRICH in Africa platform, including resources to help innovators move towards market entry.
The AU-EU Innovation Agenda Dashboard provides a growing inventory of programmes, projects and partnerships contributing to the implementation of the 10 year- AU-EU Innovation Agenda. It helps stakeholders discover existing initiatives and identify opportunities for collaboration.
A series of thematic workshops complements these platforms, bringing practitioners together to exchange experience and address practical challenges, from access to finance and intellectual property to artificial intelligence, climate resilience and youth-led innovations. By August 2026, six workshops had engaged 1,675 participants. All these activities are promoted on the AU-EU Innovation Interface.
Early monitoring also points to economic benefits that are being reaped: 56% of the initiatives assessed in the Agenda’s first-year monitoring report had generated between one and more than 100 jobs. These results offer an indication of how research and innovation cooperation can contribute to business development and employment.
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Taking cooperation forward
The second AU-EU Research and Innovation Ministerial Meeting, planned for 2027, will provide an opportunity for ministers to review progress under the Innovation Agenda and consider the next phase of cooperation. The discussions will build on the work already underway to connect innovators, strengthen business support and create better routes from research to market.
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