AEIP – The African Union-European Union Innovation Platform
The AEIP builds a network of African and European stakeholders to strengthen links between innovation ecosystems in an inclusive, collaborative manner, ensuring equal benefits.
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Projectlead: Roman Noetzel
IQIB-Team: Alexander Plé, Dr. Michael Kunkis, Alexander Mies
Duration: 01.01.2025 bis 30.06.2027
Funding programme: Horizon Europe — European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE)
Consortium: 15 members from 10 countries (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, France, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire)
Partners: Technopolis BV (Consortium Coordination), Technopolis Africa, Technopolis Deutschland GmbH, Arctik Srl, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), African Technology Innovation Hubs (AfriLabs), Association of African Universities (AAU), Digital Africa, ENRICH in Africa Center Pty Ltd, European Business and Innovation Centre Network Aisbl (EBN), Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA), Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação Consultadoria Empresarial E Fomento Da Inovação Sa (SPI), The Youth Café Limited, VC4Africa BV.
Objective: The AEIP supports the AU-EU Innovation Agenda by strengthening research and innovation (R&I) cooperation between the African Union and the European Union to drive sustainable development, economic growth, and job creation. The broader AU-EU Innovation Agenda is supported by the EU Global Gateway Initiative. By acting as a "network of networks," the AEIP connects stakeholders across the innovation value chain across Africa and Europe along the priorities of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda. This maximizes the impact of existing funding and reinforces interconnected innovation networks across both continents.
IQIB's Contribution: IQIB contributes its methodological and thematic transfer expertise through targeted capacity building and knowledge transfer activities. As a core technical contribution, IQIB designs and delivers two training modules in the field of knowledge and technology transfer. An in-depth online course on "Knowledge Transfer Mechanisms" provides an overview of key tools, practices, and processes that research institutions and public authorities in R&I can use to foster their knowledge transfer and innovation capacity. A short webinar on "Turning Research into Products" introduces key concepts bridging research management, technology transfer, and innovation management to support researchers and administrative staff from project inception to commercialization.
Moreover, in cooperation with the Association of African Universities (AAU), IQIB facilitates a virtual Community of Practice on Urban Innovation Diplomacy. The Community brings together African and European cities and organizations working at the intersection of urban innovation and urban diplomacy in interactive peer-learning sessions. Participants can share their experiences and discuss opportunities, risks, limitations, and best practices of urban innovation and smart city activities in an international African-European context. A special focus lies on diaspora and civil society inclusion and multi-level governance aspects. The insights and outcomes will be summarized in a joint policy brief for the AU-EU Innovation Agenda Working Group that proposes practical policy recommendations to support an enhanced agency of cities in innovation and international activities across Africa and Europe.
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