The Second Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE) Conference was held from 14 to 17 June 2026 at the University of Glasgow. This high-level gathering marked a significant milestone in the partnership between the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities. Held during the University of Glasgow’s 575th anniversary year, the event provided a platform to evaluate the initiative’s progress since its inception. The CoRE model, which began as a conceptual framework galvanised by the AU-EU Innovation Agenda, has successfully transitioned into a formal institutionalised network.