Scholars Programme
AEIP Scholars Programme 2026-2027
The AEIP Scholars Programme is a collaborative research impact initiative that brings African and European scholars together to advance joint research and strengthen Africa-Europe cooperation. The programme supports peer learning, research and innovation, and science communication, while encouraging scholars to address shared global challenges through knowledge exchange and practical solutions.
At the initial stage, ten scholars will be selected and matched into five Africa-Europe scholar pairs. Each pair will collaborate on a joint research activity and develop a collaborative research output. Following evaluation, the top three scholar pairs will be selected as finalists and invited to present their work at the AEIP Stakeholders Event in June 2027.
Applications close on 31 August 2026
Programme objective
The programme aims to foster collaborative research and innovation between African and European scholars by aligning academic work with the AU-EU Innovation Agenda, particularly the Capacities for Science action, and by strengthening intercontinental partnerships through solution-driven research.
The Capacities for Science action of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda aims to;
- Strengthen cooperation between African Union and European Union higher education institutions, research centres, and organisations.
- Promote knowledge transfer, teaming, twinning, learning mobility, and academic exchange.
- Support joint training programmes, research projects, and innovation activities aligned with socioeconomic needs in Africa and Europe.
- Improve transparency and recognition of higher education qualifications to enhance mobility.
- Promote relevant curricula that support academic and professional mobility.
- Build capacity for students, young scholars, and post-doctoral fellows in AU-EU priority research and innovation areas.
- Help address skills gaps, improve youth employability, and reduce talent drain.
- Support digital education systems and strengthens digital skills for digital transformation.
Eligibility and application
The programme is open to scholars who meet the following eligibility criteria:
Interested scholars are invited to share abstracts of their research. Applications will be screened and assessed based on:
- Relevance
- Academic quality
- Innovation potential
- Alignment with Africa-Europe cooperation priorities
Applications close on 31 August 2026
How it works
A total of 10 scholars will be shortlisted from Africa and Europe.
They will be paired on a 1:1 Africa-Europe basis according to shared or complementary research themes. Each pair will collaborate to develop a solution-based study addressing challenges relevant to both Africa and Europe.
Each scholar pair will design a practical, solution-oriented innovation derived from their research. Proposed solutions will be reviewed by a panel of experts and presented through a pitching process.
Solutions will be assessed based on:
The top three scholar pairs will be selected based on evaluation scores. Winning teams will be recognised for presenting impactful and scalable solutions and will be sponsored to showcase their collaborative outputs at the final AEIP Stakeholder Meeting in Europe, June 2027.
The programme is expected to produce:
- Co-created solution-based research outputs
- Strengthened Africa-Europe academic partnerships
- Practical innovations addressing shared challenges
- Enhanced capacity for inclusive and sustainable development
Programme timeline
July-August 2026
Applications open
Programme launch and opening of applications.
September 2026
Selection and pairing
Ten scholars are selected and matched into five Africa-Europe scholar pairs.
September 2026 – March 2027
Collaboration and research
Scholar pairs collaborate and submit joint research outputs.
First half of April 2027
Evaluation
Outputs are evaluated and the top three pairs are selected as finalists.
June 2027
AEIP Stakeholder Meeting
Finalist pairs present their collaborative outputs at the AEIP Stakeholder Meeting
For any questions, please contact [email protected] and mention “Scholars Programme” in the subject.