Building Innovation Bridges Between Africa and Europe Through AEIP
What drew you to the AEIP project, and what does it mean for your organisation?
Our institute is, amongst other fields, very active in knowledge and technology transfer on both the European and the African continent. In our past projects we have been active in strengthening the knowledge and technology transfer capacities in individuals, organizations and innovation systems, as well as in fostering innovation networks and communities. For this reason, the AEIP project seems like a great opportunity to scale up the experiences and expertise gained from our previous projects and to contribute to connecting the African and European innovation ecosystems. As for me personally, having a strong international and intercultural background, I felt naturally inclined towards the AEIP and am happy to be able to work in such a meaningful intercontinental project.
What has been your most memorable moment or milestone so far?
The most memorable impact so far has been seeing how many innovation stakeholders from Africa and Europe have come together at the AEIP Stakeholder Event Bridging Continents through Innovation: Africa-Europe Innovation Dialogues. Witnessing the high levels of interest and commitment from so many different stakeholders has confirmed me in believing that “bridging” the two continents in innovation might be just what is needed in these times of geopolitical transformations, polycrises and diffuse uncertainty about the future.
What impact do you hope the platform will have on the Africa-Europe innovation ecosystem?
My hope is that the platform and its surrounding digital and analogue activities will catalyze an intrinsic motivation in African and European stakeholders to foster deeper connections with their counterparts across the Mediterranean. I further hope that combining ideas, perspectives, technologies and expertise across the two continents will lead to equal partnerships and impactful innovations in both continents that will help to improve the quality of life for people in Europe and in Africa.
Is there anything you’d like the broader community to know about your organisation’s work?
The IQIB – Institut für qualifizierende Innovationsforschung und -beratung that I work for is quite a unique institute. It was founded in 1996 as the EA European Academy of Technology and Innovation Assessment (Europäische Akademie für Technikfolgenabschätzung)and used to be a highly influential institute in the German Technology Assessment landscape. Today it is a fully-owned subsidiary of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) that has expanded its scope from Technology Assessment to include other fields that are relevant for innovation. Covering thematic areas such energy systems, knowledge and technology transfer, regional and urban innovation systems, organizational development, foresight and futures literacy, space policy and data intelligence, I believe that it is an allrounder think-and-do tank for innovation, resilience, transformation, and impact.
