NRF Strengthens Strategic Partnerships at AERAP Forum 2026

The National Research Foundation (NRF) participated in the 13th Africa–Europe Science Collaboration Forum (AERAP), held from 20–22 April 2026 in Brussels. The Forum took stock of and advanced Africa–Europe science, technology, and innovation partnership programmes and instruments. Bringing together policymakers, researchers, funders, and industry leaders from across both continents, it provided a high-level platform to align research priorities, coordinate efforts, mobilise investment, and shape long-term collaboration frameworks at a critical moment ahead of the European Union’s next Multiannual Financial Framework.

Across its engagements, the NRF reinforced the importance of equitable Africa–Europe partnerships that move beyond traditional donor-recipient models toward co-created programming, shared governance, and sustainable, long-term collaboration. A consistent message throughout the Forum was the need to shift from fragmented, short-term projects to integrated science ecosystems that align policy, funding, infrastructure, and research for lasting societal impact.

A major contribution from the NRF was its emphasis on strengthening both physical and “soft” infrastructure across Africa–Europe partnerships. Beyond research facilities and equipment, the NRF highlighted the importance of governance systems, policy frameworks, institutional credibility, digital public infrastructure, and shared data ecosystems as critical foundations for scaling impactful science systems.

During the Talent Mobility session, the NRF showcased South Africa’s flagship Doctoral initiative, the Presidential PhD Programme (PPhP), a strategic platform for building a new generation of highly skilled, transdisciplinary researchers while strengthening international collaboration. It was positively received as a practical mechanism to expand Doctoral and postdoctoral mobility, joint supervision, and institutional partnerships across strategic areas such as AI, health systems, food security, digital transformation, and just transitions. This positioned the PPhP as an important vehicle for long-term Africa–Europe talent development. Other initiatives aligned to the PPhP’s objectives to advance research through skills and capacity building were the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) mobility programme and the VLIR-UOS partnerships, which further demonstrated the growing ecosystem of Africa–Europe collaboration in higher education, capacity building, and research mobility.

The NRF also participated in the Capital Markets for Science and Technology session, contributing to discussions on the need for innovative, blended and multi-sector financing models to address challenges around the reduction in R&D investments and the dependency on fragmented donor models. In addition, the NRF facilitated a discussion on science diplomacy, focusing on leveraging the AU’s Agenda 2063 and STISA-2034 to boost foreign policy and global governance, and align African and European frameworks, e.g. EU’s Global Gateway, to foster multilateralism and ensure diverse voices lead global scientific cooperation.

Reflecting on the discussions, Refilwe Mashigo, Senior Specialist: Government Resources and Programmes in the NRF’s Business Advancement unit said “For the NRF, participation in AERAP Forum 2026 is part of our on-going commitment to position South Africa, and the African continent, as an equal partner in setting international research agendas, mobilising resources, and translating knowledge into impactful, scalable solutions for shared global challenges.”

Other institutions that were represented at the Forum include Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI); the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD); Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC); Namibia’s National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST); Côte d’Ivoire’s Fund for Science, Technology and Innovation (FONSTI); the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and Agricultural Research Council (ARC); and other African and European stakeholders.