21 September 2016
The Horizon 2020 ICT-39-2017 Call is focused on research cooperation between Europe and Africa with a focus on addressing end-user requirements in sub-Saharan African countries through Innovation Actions.
Innovation Actions are focused on technological improvements/adaptations as well as innovative service creation based on existing technologies. Activities should be led by a clearly defined user need/market opportunity for the technology being adapted based on requirements of sub-Saharan African countries. It is therefore necessary to identify a project focus that is relevant in a number of countries from the same region with a sustainability plan for wider roll out following successful validation and project funding.
During the ICT Proposers Day Paul Cunningham (IST-Africa/IIMC) is presenting African Research and Innovation Priorities and Mapping of African Institutions to ICT-39 themes in the International Cooperation session on 26 September 2016 in Bratislava.
The IST-Africa Network supports community building, publishes reports sharing findings from research undertaken, informs policy and supports African organisations involved in Research and Innovation to identify relevant European partners and vice versa in the context of Horizon 2020 as part of its outreach activities. IST-Africa partner counties include: East Africa (Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda), Central Africa (Cameroon), West Africa (Senegal), North Africa (Egypt, Tunisia), Southern Africa (Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland).
IST-Africa has published a number of reports that provide valuable information on the environment, research and innovation priorities, existing ongoing activities and mapping of potential research partners and innovation spaces in IST-Africa partner countries:
IST-Africa Guide to National ICT Initiatives and Research Capacity, January 2016, Published by IIMC, ISBN No: 978-1-905824-47-2
IST-Africa Report on Innovation Spaces and Living Labs, January 2016, Published by IIMC, ISBN No: 978-1-905824-49-6
IST-Africa Report on ICT and Innovation-related Bilateral & Multilateral Cooperation Initiatives, January 2016, Published by IIMC, ISBN No: 978-1-905824-48-9