Our experience

The AEIP builds on extensive activities driving Africa-Europe cooperation on R&I. Cornerstone policies include the Joint Africa-EU Strategy adopted in 2007 and the Joint Vision for 2030 adopted in 2022. Moreover, the AU-EU Innovation Agenda, adopted in 2023, highlights the importance of an inclusive innovation ecosystem and draws out the priority areas for developing it.
The year 2025 also marks the 25th anniversary of the AU-EU partnership, which was first established in Cairo at the Africa-Europe Summit in 2000.

Within this policy context, the Africa-Europe Innovation Partnership was funded by the European Commission and ran between 2018 and 2021. This initiative focused on supporting and connecting innovation and technology incubators and accelerators to tap into new markets, find trusted partners across the Mediterranean, and build new perspectives, knowledge, and networks.

The ENRICH in Africa project was funded by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme to strengthen the EU-Africa tech and innovation ecosystems, supporting innovators and collaboration, connecting incubators, accelerators, investors, corporates, and policymakers for social impact and developing green business.

From this project, the ENRICH in Africa Center grew, running its own community of like-minded innovation actors.
The AEIP also builds on the support provided to the AU-EU Innovation Agenda Working Group of the AU-EU High-Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD) on Science, Technology, and Innovation by the Global Service Facility, a project funded by the European Commission. This Working Group oversees the implementation of the Agenda and includes government officials, as well as academic and independent experts from AU and EU Member States and regional organisations.

Building on these activities and the actors involved in implementing them, the Africa-Europe Innovation Platform drives further the mission of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda in bridging R&I communities across the two continents for sustainable development.