Africa-Europe CoRE

At the ARUA-The Guild Summit, held at the University of Glasgow 14-17 June 2026, Vice-Chancellors and Presidents of 46 leading universities in Africa and Europe resolved to redouble their efforts to address humanity’s common challenges in health, digital transformation, environmental degradation, technological shifts, cultural tensions and geopolitical strife together.

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.

Seven early and mid-career researchers based at universities and research performing organisations in Malawi, Uganda, Nigeria, and Ghana share their experiences as fellows of the AU-EU Health Partnership to strengthen research on mpox and Lassa fever.

The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities have joined forces with Enabel to launch a new Africa-Europe Partnership to strengthen research on Mpox and Lassa fever. This research initiative, under the AU-EU Health Partnership, aims to build Africa’s capacity in translational research and vaccine development for these diseases.

The Guild and ARUA are delighted to introduce the latest addition to the Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE): the CoRE in Integrative Conservation Biology Research and Training. The new CoRE answers a call from over 200 researchers on both continents to safeguard Eastern Africa’s biodiversity amid climate change, while addressing local community needs.

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.

The Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence in Mathematics (CoRE-Math) has been selected as the 21^st CoRE to join the initiative led by The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities (The Guild). The academic co-leads of the CoRE-Math will be welcomed into the fold by around 200 participants at the inaugural CoRE conference taking place from 30 September to 2 October, hosted by Stellenbosch University.

The Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE) has launched a new logo to mark the first anniversary since the initiative was established by the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities (The Guild).

Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, Secretary-General of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), has underscored the urgent need for a transformative business model in African research collaboration. He made this known while delivering a keynote address titled, “Developing a New Research and Innovation Ecosystem for Africa through Effective Partnership” at the 2024 Presidents Forum of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN).

The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities (The Guild) have launched three new Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE).