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Africa-Europe CoRE Conference Charts New Pathways for Collaboration and Development

3rd October 2024

The inaugural Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE) conference, hosted by Stellenbosch University, took place from September 29 to October 2, 2024. Bringing together more than 250 academics from 49 institutions across 27 countries in Africa, Europe, and beyond, the conference served as a pivotal platform for fostering international collaboration and advancing cutting-edge research initiatives.

Delivering a welcome message, Prof. Wim de Villiers, Rector of Stellenbosch University, emphasized the importance of equity, collaboration, and capacity building in addressing global challenges. The ARUA Board Chair and VC of Rhodes University, Prof. Sizwe Mabizela, and the Chair of the Guild, Prof. Anders Hagfeld, in their remarks both praised the joint efforts of the two networks, highlighting the significant strides being made to increase cutting-edge research in Africa by fostering collaboration between African and European researchers.

Prof. Wim de Villiers, Rector, Stellenbosch University

The ARUA Secretary-General, Prof. John Gyapong set the stage for the conference by outlining the rationale behind the establishment of the Clusters of Research Excellence (CoREs), noting that the CoREs were viewed as a vital initiative for fostering collaboration between African and European universities. He stressed that the CoREs were established to enable coordinated access to facilities and expertise on both continents, foster the co-creation of knowledge that drives African development, and help address brain-drain by providing local opportunities for researchers.

Prof. John Gyapong, ARUA SG

Speaking on the key objectives of the conference, Prof. Jan Palmowski, Secretary-General of the Guild, said that it was designed to allow the CoREs to take stock of their achievements and strategically plan for the future, ensuring that their work remains impactful and consistent with the founding vision and objectives.

Prof. Jan Palmowski, SG of the Guild

The conference featured insightful keynote addresses from distinguished speakers: Professor Funmi Olonisakin, Vice President for International Engagement and Service,  King’s College, who emphasized equity, impact, and capacity building, and Professor Thuli Madonsela, Director of the Center for Social Justice and founder of the Thuma Foundation for Democracy Leadership and Literacy, who stressed the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration within and across Clusters. Mr. Daan du Toit, Acting Director General of South Africa’s Department of Science and Innovation, also spoke on the country’s commitment to advancing science, innovation, and technology.

Launched a year ago, the CoREs used the conference to share experiences, achievements, and challenges, while also developing concrete plans for the coming years. Additionally, the event offered the clusters the opportunity to learn from one another, explore interdisciplinary collaborations, and engage with African and European policymakers. A significant focus was on showcasing how the CoREs are already contributing to the AU-EU Innovation Agenda.

To learn more about the CoREs, click Here.

From the left: Prof. Mayowa  Owolabi, co-lead, CoRE on NCD, Prof. John Gyapong, ARUA SG, Prof. Thuli Madonsela, Director, Centre for Social Justice, Mr. Daan du Toit, Ag. DG, SA Department of Science & Innovation, Prof. Sibusiso Moyo, DVC, Research, Innovation & Postgraduate Studies, SU.

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