EU and South Africa increase S&T co-operation

The EU and South Africa will step-up collaboration in the fields of global health research, earth observation and research infrastructures, senior officials agreed at a meeting in Brussels.

The 12th Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee meeting took place to review and plan new priorities of collaboration under Horizon 2020 and similar South African research programmes.

In preparation for the second programme of the European and Developing Countries’ Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), the EU and South Africa will work together to mobilise broader African participation. The European Commission welcomed South Africa’s commitment to become a full contributing member of the EDCTP General Assembly.

In the domain of research infrastructures, the EU and South Africa will discuss synergies between the European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures and the South African national research infrastructure roadmap. Co-operation in the area of radio astronomy will specifically be encouraged, including support for the Africa-European Radio-Astronomy Platform.

The meeting also noted South Africa’s planned association to the EUREKA network for industrial research. Other possible future areas of co-operation include the marine environment, minerals, the bio-economy and water and waste management.

In December, the European Commission launched the first calls under Horizon 2020, with several focus areas for co-operation with Africa in general, as well as South Africa more specifically. A specific call was introduced on enhancing the research and innovation policy dialogue between the EU with South Africa.