Overview of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda & Results of the Public Consultation

Overview of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda
& Results of the Public Consultation
Lukovi Seke
African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa‘s Development (AUDA-NEPAD)
Vincenzo Lorusso
Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG R&I), European Commission
23 November 2022
AU-EU Innovation Agenda Stakeholder Event,
Nairobi & online

The Joint AU-EU Innovation Agenda
• Mainstay of the AU-EU Cooperation in R&I for
the next decade, outcome of the 1st AU-EU R&I
Ministerial meeting of July 2020.
• Aiming to translate R&I endeavours into
tangible products, services, businesses and
jobs and develop a long-term and sustainable
operational AU-EU R&I cooperation model.
• Acknowledged in the final Declaration of the 6th
EU-AU Summit – A Joint Vision for 2030.
• At EU level, flagship initiative of The Global
Gateway Africa – Europe Investment Package.
For building stronger value chains
for sustainable growth and decent jobs
2

3
The Joint AU-EU Innovation Agenda
Short-, medium- and
long-term set of actions,
according to four joint
priority areas:
i. Public Health
ii. Green Transition
iii. Innovation &
Technology
iv. Capacities for Science
Mapping of gaps
& needs for each
priority area
4 objectives:
For building stronger value chains for sustainable growth and decent jobs
• Working document of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda drafted through a comprehensive concerted “Team Europe-
Africa” work, involving the AU and the EU Member States and Commissions, under the AU-EU High-Level Policy
Dialogue (HLPD) on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).
• Published on 14 February, under public consultation until 30 June.

4
6th EU – AU Summit - Final Declaration

5
• UNSDGs: 2030 Agenda & its 17 Goals
• AU Agenda 2063
• STISA 2024 & CESA16-25
• AUC DTS 2020-2030
• EU Comprehensive Strategy with Africa
• EU Global Approach to R&I
AU – EU
Innovation Agenda
• Since 2010, AU-EU Cooperation in Research & Innovation has been governed under the aegis of
the High-Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD) on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).
Policy Context

AU-EU HLPD on STI
Previous and
ongoing joint
R&I activities
The pilot mapping exercise of
projects of the EU-AU R&I
Partnership on Food and
Nutrition Security and
Sustainable Agriculture, as well as
progress of the R&I Partnership on
Climate Change and Sustainable
Energy (CCSE)
A joint working group of the AU-EU HLPD on STI took stock of multiple sources
6
Background
Results and
lessons learnt of
the Africa-Europe
Innovation
Partnership pilot
project
Opinions of the
AU-EU Advisory
Group on R&I
Discussions
that took place
at the EU-AU
R&I Ministerial
2020

AU / EU
INSTITUTIONS
AU / EU
MEMBER STATES
HIGHER
EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS
PUBLIC / PRIVATE
RESEARCH
INSTITUTIONS
PRIVATE
SECTOR:
START-UPs,
MSMEs & LARGE
BUSINESS
ENTRERPRISES
CIVIL SOCIETY
ORGANISATIONS
7
Background
• The collaboration
under the AU-EU
Innovation Agenda
needs to occur with
all innovation
stakeholders,
leveraging the
demographic dividend
to empower the youth.
The AU-EU
Innovation Agenda

Public Health
417 joint projects
1.4 BEUR
Green transition
311 joint projects
816 MEUR
Innovation & Technology
> 10 joint projects
74.2 MEUR
Capacities for Science
3 joint projects
188.8 MEUR
1 2 3 4
8
On the 4 Priority Areas of
AU-EU R&I cooperation

Innovation management
Knowledge exchange,
including technology transfer
Access to finance
Human capacity development
The innovation ecosystem
Needs and gaps analysis identified five areas:
A
B
C
D
E
9
Needs and gaps analysis

Cross-
cutting
Public
Health
Green
Transition
Innovation &
Technology
1
2
3
4
1
2
1
2
1
2 Supporting tech/innovation hubs, networks, & operations of accelerators and incubators.
Developing/transferring innovative renewable energy production and use devices, suitable for easy and prompt
adoption by ‘energy communities.
Support to Health R&I outputs to turn into relevant products, policy guidance and services
Fostering the participation of financing partners
Identifying/Sharing climate resilience/adaptation practices (SDGs 13)
Pro-active involvement of citizens in the innovation ecosystems
Networking of business, government, higher education and NPO sectors through platforms.
Supporting research and innovation cooperation between AU and EU research organizations and companies (in
particular SMEs) from low tech to high tech
Joint R&I agendas on health priorities, enhancing best practices and common standards, Using emerging tech
(e.g., digitalisation, ICT, robotics, AI)
Capacities
for Science 2 Improving transparency/recognition of qualifications/relevance of curricula for enhanced mobility & Digital
education transformation
Strengthening R&D cooperation between AU-EU HE/Gov. institutions through knowledge transfer, teaming,
twinning and learning mobility activities.
1
Supporting the development of innovative climate services through a new “space STI cooperation” action for risk
reduction at local and regional level.
10
Actions
Short-term

Cross-
Cutting
Public Health
Green
Transition
1
1
1
2 Developing in Africa renewable fuels in a changing world for climate change mitigation.
Fostering digital applications and green technologies for agro-ecological production,
healthy and sustainable food processing and consumption.
Ensuring tech-transfer and affordable, available, accessible and quality vaccine, medicines
and health technologies & production
Re-skilling/upskilling citizens to profit from innovation and technologies to prevent
inequalities and/or discriminations (SDGs 8-9-13)
Capacities
for Science 2 Creating enabling STI environment for sustainable innovation ecosystems
(Quadruple helix actors)
1 Promoting joint master/doctoral degrees between AU-EU universities, mobility of researchers
11
Actions
Medium-term

Cross-
cutting
Public
Health
Green
Transition
Innovation
& Technology
1
1
1
1
2 Dissemination of knowledge through digital transformation
Improving the agricultural innovation ecosystem to co-invest in start-ups and agro-SME
Promoting Precision medicine & Design/Implement new methods & tools to counteract future health
threats (long standing/re-emerging/antimicrobial resistant pathogens
Promoting R&D with a special focus on youth, women and demography, mitigation and
management of global challenges
Facilitating inclusive/affordable access to world-class research and innovation
infrastructures
Capacities
for Science 2 Modernizing/Reinforcing R&D & Higher education systems (RHESs)
1 Bridging R&I in fostering the emergence of or strengthening centres of excellence
12
Actions
Long-term

How to make this happen?
13
Instrument Actions / Priority Areas
Framework Programme Horizon Europe – Work Programme 2023-2024
(‘Africa Initiative II’)
Short- and medium-term actions across all
target areas
Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking Public Health
Global Gateway Africa – Europe Investment Package:
• Global Europe: Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation
Instrument (NDICI)
• European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+)
• ERASMUS +
• All target areas
• All target areas
• Capacities for science
INNOWWIDE call from Eureka Short-term actions for Innovation & Technology
Other instruments from other sources, including EU and AU Member States,
Development Banks and International Financial Institutions and Private
Sector too.
All target areas, according to
countries’/organisations’ specificities
• Ongoing and future discussions will aim to devise and mobilise additional funding
instruments.

Year 2022: Stakeholder Dialogue Process
• The year 2022 entails a Stakeholder Dialogue Process, to ensure the final version of the
Innovation Agenda will address actual societal needs.
• Several initiaves planned for this year:
Stakeholder
Event Dec.-Jan.
Feb. March April May June July August Sept. October Nov.
Online public consultation
(private citizens + organisations)
14 Feb.
Analysis & interpretation
of findings
30 June
Publication &
Dissemination
of report
Stakeholder
Event
Finalisation
of the
Agenda
Report to be
published by
Sept 30
Nairobi &
Online, 23-24
November
Throughout the year: Engagement of and discussions with Stakeholders across all sectors in both Europe and Africa (and beyond)
through webinars, conferences, events, publications and ad-hoc meetings.
14
• Q2.2023: Approval of final AU-EU Innovation Agenda at the second AU-EU
R&I Ministerial, including the launch the selected activities.

AU-EU Innovation Agenda – Public Consultation
Overview of findings
• Feedback very much welcomed the AU-EU Innovation Agenda and endorsed
its objectives and actions.
• Respondents highlighted the need to build on the good results that have already been
achieved in joint AU-EU R&I cooperation, but also the importance of collaborating
inclusively across sectors (public, private, NGOs, CSOs, etc.) from the conception
throughout the implementation phases (i.e. in the short-, medium- and long-term).
• The need to enhance capacity in terms of research infrastructure, training (staff
and students’ exchanges included) and funding was highly mentioned.
• Respondents emphasised the importance of Monitoring & Evaluating results to
ensure the successful implementation of the Agenda.
• While researchers and research institutions were deemed as key beneficiaries of the work of the Agenda, the
importance of involving other groups was widely acknowledged, going beyond Higher Education Institutions and
involving schools, local communities (in urban and rural areas), leveraging and protecting indigenous know-how,
empowering youth, women and vulnerable groups (e.g. persons with disabilities) and engaging the African
diaspora. 15
© Daniel Ernst (2021)

163; 54%
140; 46%
Individual
Organisation
Contributions
• A total of 303 Contributions were received.
16

189
99
5 5 1 1 1 1 1
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
Africa Europe Africa &
Europe
North
America
Asia &
Europe
Africa &
North
America
South
America
Africa &
Oceania
Africa, Asia
& Europe
Africa
Europe
Africa & Europe
North America
Asia & Europe
Africa & North
America
South America
62,4%
32,7%
1,7% 1,7% 0,3% 0,3% 0,3% 0,3% 0,3%
Africa
Europe
Africa & Europe
North America
Asia & Europe
Africa & North America
South America
Africa & Oceania
Africa, Asia & Europe
Contributions
17

110; 58%
79; 42%
Individual
Organisation
Africa Europe
45; 45%
54; 55%
Individual
Organisation
Contributions
18

Background of respondents
153
47
30 26
21 17
9
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Public Higher education,
Academic Hospital and
Academic research
institution
Non-profit organisation or
Civil Society Organisation
Government (national,
regional, local, including
research council and
commission)
Business enterprise
(Parastatal or private) or
Private sector
organisation
Other Start-up or business
incubator or technology
hub
Private Higher education,
Academic Hospital and
Academic research
institution
(50%)
(15%)
(10%)
(8.5%)
(5.6%) (2.9%)
(6.9%)
“Other” includes University
Networks, scientific societies,
associations, product
development partnerships
(PDPs), Horizon 2020 projects,
a promotional bank and
innovation agency and a sub-
contractor/member of an expert
panel.
19

20
Geography of contributions

21
19
16
11
16
6 6
7
5 5
6
3 3
1
2
1 1 1 1
35
9 9
3
5
2
1
2 2 2
1
3
1 1 1 1 1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Individual
Organisation
Geography of contributions – Africa

14
3
9
5
4
1
3
1
2
1 1 1
7
14
2
5
6
5
2
4
2 2
1 1 1 1 1
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Individual
Organisation
22
Geography of contributions – Europe

41
19
9
13
8
9
7 7
5
2
1
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Africa Europe Africa & Europe
Public Higher Education
Non-profit Organisation or Civil Society Organisation
Business enterprise (Parastatal or private) or Private sector
organisation
Start-up or Business Incubator or Technology Hub
Government
Private Higher Education
Public Private Partnerships (PPP)
Public Higher Education and Civil Society Organisation
Research Laboratory
Non-profit research for development organisation
Environmental services
University network
Scientific Society
Private, SME, Skills and Training, Technology
French Promotional Bank & Innovation Agency
Organisations’ background
• Start-ups / Business Incubators / Technology hubs contributing as ‘organisations’ all from Africa.
23

65,02%
51,16%
75,91%
63,37%
17,82%
26,07%
14,52%
21,45%
15,18%
18,48%
8,91%
13,53%
1,98% 3,63% 0,33% 1,65%
0,00% 0,66% 0,33% 0,00%
0,00%
20,00%
40,00%
60,00%
80,00%
100,00%
Objective 1: "Make it real" Objective 2: "Generate Impact by
Design"
Objective 3: “Strengthen people,
communities and institutions”
Objective 4: “Learn, monitor and scale
it up”
Highly Important Fairly Important Important Slightly important Not at all important
Appreciation of Objectives
24

72,61%
62,71%
67,33%
63,04%
13,53%
21,78%
25,41%
25,08%
11,55% 11,88%
5,94%
9,90%
1,65% 3,63% 0,99% 1,65%
0,66% 0 0,33% 0,33%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Public Health Green Transition Innovation & Technology Capacities for Science
Appreciation of Priority Areas
25

60,07%
47,19%
70,63% 68,98%
77,56%
24,42%
32,34%
22,11%
19,47%
14,85%
12,87%
17,82%
5,94%
7,59%
5,28%
2,64% 1,98%
0,99% 3,30%
1,98%
0,00% 0,66% 0,33% 0,66% 0,33%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
The innovation ecosystem Innovation management Knowledge exchange, including
technology transfer
Access to finance Human capacity development
AU-EU Innovation Agenda – Public Consultation –
Appreciation of Gaps & Needs
26

49,83% 48,84% 50,50%
41,25% 40,26%
69,97%
73,60%
43,23%
40,26%
43,56%
37,95%
53,80%
18,81%
22,44% 22,77%
26,07%
25,08%
30,36%
20,79%
17,16%
26,07% 30,03% 25,41%
25,74%
22,77%
4,95%
18,81% 22,11%
19,14%
27,06%
24,42%
9,24% 8,91%
17,82%
23,10%
23,10%
22,77%
16,83%
4,29%
7,92%
6,27% 3,96% 6,27% 4,95%
0,00% 0,33%
10,56%
5,61% 7,26%
10,23%
5,28%
0,33%
0,99% 0,00% 0,33% 0,33% 0,00% 0,00% 0,00% 2,31% 0,99% 0,66%
3,30% 1,32%
4,29%
67,33%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Entrepreneurs Start-ups Micro, small
and medium-
sized
enterprises
(MSMEs)
Incubators Tech-hubs Researchers
(public and
private sector)
Research
institutions
(e.g.
universities,
public and
private)
Policy makers Technology
Transfer
Offices
Public finance
institutions
Private
financing
End users /
Civil society
Other
Highly Important Fairly Important Important Slightly important Not at all important No answer
• When asnwering to the
question on "who should be
the main beneficiaries of the
AU-EU Innovation Agenda",
~70% of responders
recognised as "Very
Important" Research
institutions (universities,
public & private) (73.6%)
and Researchers
(69.97%).
• These findings, at least to
some extent, reflect the
backgrond of the survey
population.
27
Target beneficiaries of the Agenda

Feedback on Actions
• Input gathered indicated some additional routes of action that could be taken by the
Agenda, especially in the short-term and medium-term, such as:
─ Short-term and a medium-term action explicitly focusing on agriculture, food
security and water (including access and waste management as well as seas);
─ Medium-term action on Innovation & Technology (e.g. in the area of infrastructure
/ manufacturing capacity, which by nature is not a short-term endeavour).
.
28

90,43% 90,10% 89,44% 87,46% 85,48% 85,15% 84,49% 83,18% 82,51% 81,52% 80,53%
72,93%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Innovation &
Technology 1
of 2
Innovation &
Technology 2
of 2
Capacities for
Science 1 of 2
Public Health
2 of 2
Cross-cutting
1 of 4
Green
Transition 1
of 2
Capacities for
Science 2 of 2
Green
Transition 2
of 2
Cross-cutting
4 of 4
Public Health
1 of 2
Cross-cutting
2 of 4
Cross-cutting
3 of 4
Sum of Very + Fairly important
Feedback on Short-term Actions
29

Feedback on Medium-term Actions
87,46% 85,81% 85,48%
79,87% 79,54%
76,89%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Public Health 1 of 1 Capacities for Science 1 of
2
Green Transition 1 of 2 Cross-cutting 1 of 1 Capacities for Science 2 of
2
Green Transition 2 of 2
30

Feedback on Long-term Actions
89,77%
87,13% 85,48% 84,82% 84,16% 83,83% 82,18%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Innovation & Technology
1 of 1
Green Transition 1 of 2 Capacities for Science 2
of 2
Capacities for Science 1
of 2
Public Health 1 of 1 Cross-cutting 1 of 1 Innovation & Technology
2 of 2
31

What can you do to enhance the impact
of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda?
– Word clouds
32

https://research-and-
innovation.ec.europa.eu/strategy/strategy-
2020-2024/europe-world/international-
cooperation/eu-africa-cooperation_en
• Full report accessible at the link:
33

AU-EU Innovation Agenda
Stakeholder Event
(23-24 November, Nairobi & Online)
#AUEU #InnovationAgenda #MakingItHappen #PositiveAgenda
34

1
Presenting and discussing on the outcome of the online public consultation
[report available on the page here: EU-Africa cooperation (europa.eu)]
2
Co-creating the implementation plan of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda, by providing a forum for discussion on:
a) Tangible deliverables expected from the implementation of the Agenda
b) Ongoing and/or future initiatives that could enable the implementation of the Agenda
c) Potential gaps and needs still unaddressed by the current draft Agenda and actions to fulfil them
3
Showcase the AU and EU vibrant innovation ecosystems, fostering networking and partnerships
4
Providing strategic training and information sessions focused on topics of relevance to the implementation of
the AU-EU Innovation Agenda.
 Through the plenary session on Day 1, AM
 Through thematic workshops on Day 1, PM – to be followed by a Wrap-up session with rapporteurs
from each workshop
 Through the Matchmaking event “AU-EU Innovation Fair – Meet the innovators” on Day 2, PM
 Through the Training and Information sessions on Day 2, AM
Objectives of the Stakeholder Event

Want to know more on the process?
Pre-print available on: https://osf.io/preprints/africarxiv/yv9e2/
37

• EC-AUC co-chairs & Bureau Members of the EU/AU HLPD-STI
• Ad-hoc Innovation Agenda Working Group of the AU-EU HLPD Bureau on STI
and its dedicated Taskforce team
• Participating EC, AUC and AUDA-NEPAD Directorates and/or Departments, such as
─ EC DGs INTPA, EAC, JRC
─ AUC Departments of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation
─ AUDA-NEPAD, through both Technical Cooperation & Programme Funding
(TCPF, CEO‘s Office) and Programme Innovation and Planning Directorate (PIPD)
• AU & EU MS experts (Team Africa and Europe)
38
Acknowledgements

39
#AUEU #InnovationAgenda #MakingItHappen #PositiveAgenda
vincenzo.lorusso@ec.europa.eu
LukoviS@nepad.org
Photo credits: Slide 15: © Daniel Ernst, #336473590, 2021. Source: Stock.Adobe.com.

Overview of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda & Results of the Public Consultation

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to Overview of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda & Results of the Public Consultation

Similar to Overview of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda & Results of the Public Consultation (20)

More from Francois Stepman

More from Francois Stepman (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Overview of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda & Results of the Public Consultation