European Commission signed a new initiative to encourage collaboration between leading African researchers and European Research Council (ERC) grantees. This initiative opens new opportunities for researchers supported by the AAS to temporarily join teams led by ERC grantees in Europe.
The agreement encourages beneficiaries of the ‘African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence – Pilot Programme’ (ARISE-PP) to pursue research collaborations with ERC-funded researchers. The ARISE-PP is founded on the AU-EU High-Level Policy Dialogue on Science, Technology, and Innovation, and the AU-EU Innovation Agenda. ARISE-PP provides a vibrant platform and pathway for R&I exchanges contributing to sustainable and inclusive development, economic growth, and job creation.
With this new agreement, all partners have committed to deepen the cooperation in frontier research between the EU and the African Union.
The new agreement was signed by Director-General Marc Lemaitre of the European Commission’s Directorate General for research and Innovation and AAS President Professor Lise Korsten, in the presence of Deputy Director-General Myriam Ferran of the European Commission’s Directorate General for International Partnerships and ERC President Professor Maria Leptin.