The Research and Innovation Directorate (RID), University of Ghana (UG) in collaboration with the European Union Delegation to the African Union, EURAXESS Africa, the African Academy of Sciences held a workshop focused on the Horizon Europe - Africa Initiative III. The workshop brought together key stakeholders with the aim of acquainting participants with the Horizon Europe - Africa Initiative III.
The hybrid workshop took place at the Cedi Conference Centre, UG for the purpose of:
- Introducing participants to the 2025 Work Programmes, with a focus on the 24 call topics available under the Horizon Europe - Africa Initiative III, which has a budget of €500 million.
- Enhancing participants' skills in searching for and identifying project consortia, as well as in the processes of submitting project proposals via the EU Funding & Tenders portal.
- Exploring avenues for collaboration between Africa and Europe in Research and Innovation (R&I), showcasing success stories and potential partnerships that can arise from the Horizon Europe - Africa Initiative III.
The Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development, Prof. Felix Ankomah Asante, in welcoming participants, acknowledged the presence of Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, former Vice-Chancellor, UG and other guests. He noted the limited timelines for submission of research proposals and encouraged faculty to collaborate to improve their chances of success with European Union Calls. Prof. Asante encouraged faculty not to be discouraged by unsuccessful applications, urging them to use feedback from the EU to improve proposals for future Calls.
Dr. Cephas Adjei-Mensah from the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) lauded Ghana’s position among the top five recipients of EU research grants and underlined the strategic importance of the workshop in enabling African researchers to tap into global funding. He highlighted the Government’s operationalization of the National Research Fund as key to Ghana’s commitment to supporting research that will transform lives. He encouraged the formation of competitive consortia to amplify research outcomes that align with national development goals.
Dr Laurent Bochereau, Minister-Counselor for Science, Technology and Innovation (EU delegation to the AU) presented an overview of the EU’s funding landscape and commended the University of Ghana for its’ active participation and being among the top five recipients of EU grants. He stated that EU funding in the near future will focus on digitalization, development of smart cities, education and space, indicating that most of the funding will go to Africa.
A highlight of the workshop was the testimony from Prof. John Gyapong, Chair of the Global Health EDCTP3 Scientific Committee, who shared insights into EU-funded health research projects that have benefited Ghana and other countries, including funding for malaria vaccines and rapid responses to health emergencies such as Mpox.
Prof. Edem Mahu, an ARISE Fellow and Marine Biogeochemist, presented a synopsis of her research in the area of marine biology and ocean science, sharing valuable tips on grant acquisition, her career journey and the importance mentorship.
The regional representative of EURAXESS Africa, Prof. Yedilfana Setarge conducted a detailed demonstration of the EURAXESS platform, an essential tool for researchers seeking funding, mobility, and networking opportunities within Europe and Africa. “EURAXESS Africa offers a comprehensive support system to help African researchers connect and compete globally,” he noted.
The workshop concluded by reaffirming the importance of sustained support for research funding and Africa-Europe collaboration in science, technology, and innovation.
In his closing remarks, Prof. David Dodoo-Arhin, Director of RID, emphasized the university’s commitment to supporting researchers in securing international funding, which he described as “the lifeline of the work that we do.” He highlighted the institution’s role in advancing research aligned with national priorities.
