//Workshop series: Implementing the AU-EU Innovation Agenda

Workshop series: Implementing the AU-EU Innovation Agenda

The video recording of the presentation titled ‘Opportunities from the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking’ by Dr Thomas Nyirenda is now available for viewing. This presentation was part of the Public Health Innovations Workshop, which took place during the 2024 South African Science Forum at the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa on 3 December 2024.

The workshop series, now in its third edition, was designed to explore the implementation of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda. Its primary goal was to provide valuable insights into the impact and perspectives of innovations in public health. This initiative aligns with the ongoing efforts to enhance cooperation between African and European nations in addressing health challenges.

The AU-EU Innovation Agenda

In 2023, the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) adopted the new joint AU-EU Innovation Agenda. This agenda aims to transform and increase the innovative capacities of researchers and innovators in both regions. The focus is on turning these innovations into tangible outputs, such as products, services, businesses, and jobs. Key areas of emphasis include:

  • Public health
  • Green transition
  • Innovation and technology
  • Capacities for science

These elements are all featured on the Global Gateway, underscoring the commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation.

Highlights from Dr Nyirenda’s presentation

In his presentation, Dr Nyirenda discussed the Global Health EDCTP3 Work Programmes for 2024 and 2025. Here are some key points that stood out:

  • Collaboration opportunities: Dr Nyirenda highlighted how EDCTP creates a unique platform for collaboration between European and African scientists. This partnership is crucial in the fight against infectious diseases.
  • Alignment with global health priorities: The work of EDCTP aligns closely with the EU-AU global health priorities and targets, ensuring that efforts are focused on the most pressing health issues.
  • Future directions: The presentation outlined the exciting prospects for innovation in public health and how these programmes can lead to meaningful advancements in tackling health challenges.

Global Health EDCTP3 is significant for several reasons:

  • Strengthening research capacity: By fostering collaboration, it helps build research capacity in Africa, enabling local scientists to contribute to global health solutions.
  • Addressing infectious diseases: With the increasing threat of infectious diseases, initiatives like Global Health EDCTP3 are vital for developing effective vaccines and treatments.
  • Global health equity: This collaboration aims to promote health equity, ensuring that advancements in healthcare benefit all populations, particularly those in underserved regions.

Watch the presentation!

Watch the full presentation to learn more about the EDCTP programmes.