Africa and Europe Should Rethink Scientific Collaboration

Africa and Europe Should Rethink Scientific Collaboration

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European science cooperation with Africa needs redefining, as it is failing to address wide-ranging needs and challenges experienced by African countries — and often ignores those countries most in need of support, a conference has heard.

Speaking at the Euroscience Open Forum 2012 (ESOF), in Ireland, Ismail Serageldin, director of the New Library of Alexandria, Egypt, said that Europe should not limit its science and technology cooperation with Africa merely to funding. Instead, it should involve the continent in European flagship research initiatives, implement ‘twinning’ programmes that “promote real action on the ground in Africa”, and facilitate joint research, said Serageldin.