Innovations for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Energy: Africa and Europe strengthen cooperation under the AU–EU Innovation Agenda

Innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, programme leaders and policymakers from Africa, Europe and beyond convened on 17 December 2025 in Brussels and online for the fifth edition of the Workshop Series: Implementing the AU-EU Innovation Agenda. Co-organised by the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU) and the Africa-Europe Foundation , within the framework of the 10-year AU-EU Innovation Agenda (2023-2033), this edition focused on a key thematic priority: "Innovations for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Energy in Africa-Europe Collaborations". Representatives of Kenya's and Nigeria's Missions to the EU also joined in the co-moderation of the Workshop.

The hybrid event brought together around 40 participants on site in Brussels and more than 250 online throughout the day.

Setting the scene for climate and energy innovation

The Workshop opened with Institutional Remarks from the European Commission (DG Research & Innovation) and the Africa-Europe Foundation, setting the strategic context for AU-EU cooperation on climate resilience and sustainable energy. This was followed by a joint update on the progress made on the implementation of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda in 2025 and looking ahead at opportunities for stakeholder engagement in 2026.

Discussions highlighted the central role of the Green Transition priority area, particularly in relation to climate change and sustainable energy, and its strong interlinkages with food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and public health, also in the context of climate impacts on vulnerable communities.

Experience sharing - Stakeholders' testimonials

The Experience Sharing session featured research and innovation stakeholders illustrating how their initiatives have benefitted from their involvement in the AU-EU Innovation Agenda.

Testimonials were delivered by representatives of

1. the Horizon 2020-funded "LEAP-RE" (Long-term Joint EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership on Renewable Energy) Programme
2. the French-Cameroonian deep-tech environmental intelligence start-up HENDDU
3. the Nigerian NGO-run Project Green Initiative
4. the Horizon 2020 "SESA" (Smart Energy Solutions for Africa) project

These initiatives are featured in the AU-EU Innovation Agenda Dashboard, the "living inventory" encompassing projects, programmes, partnerships and scholarships contributing to the realisation of the Agenda.

These interventions outlined pathways from research and innovation to tangible socio-economic and environmental impact, as well as lessons learned on cross-continental partnership building.

Training & Capacity Enhancement Transformation Scheme

The third core segment was the "Training and Capacity Enhancement Transformation Scheme", providing participants with practical information on opportunities for scale-up and growth, such as funding instruments, calls for proposals and innovation challenges

Speakers emphasised concrete entry points for innovators, researchers, SMEs and other stakeholders to connect, collaborate and scale-up solutions in areas such as renewable energy, climate adaptation, circular economy and the climate-health nexus. Presentations covered:

1. the "LEAP-SE " (Long-Term Joint EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership on Sustainable Energy) Programme
2. initiatives by the Alliance for Rural Electrification
3. RAISEAfrica by the RES4Africa Foundation
4. the Horizon Europe Trans-Sahara project
5. the Open Innovation Thematic Challenge on "Green Transition" from the Horizon Europe Africa-Europe Innovation Platform (AEIP) project
6. the European Commission (DG International Partnership) - funde ArcX (Africa Regional Centres of Excellence for Green Transition)
7. (forthcoming calls for proposals in the area of Africa-Europe cooperation, part of Horizon Europe thematic clusters 5 and 6
8. the Global Health European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership 3 (EDCTP3 ) Work Programme 2026 (call on "Global collaboration action on climate and health in sub-Saharan Africa")

Networking Café: fostering partnerships

The Workshop then transitioned into a Networking Café with three parallel thematic breakout sessions on (i) innovations for climate adaptation, (ii) energy innovations for climate mitigation, and (iii) social innovations for a green and resilient transition. Moderated by European Commission and AU-EU Innovation Agenda Working Group representatives and supported by expert practitioners from the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI ), LEAP-RE programme and Trans-Sahara project (Technical University of Munich), the sessions enabled interactive exchanges on shared challenges, barriers to innovation, helping pinpointing common interests and opportunities for collaboration.

Participants identified potential synergies for joint projects, capacity-building activities and knowledge exchange, reinforcing the role of the Workshop Series in nurturing a vibrant and inclusive AU-EU "community of practice".

Looking ahead

The Workshop concluded with closing remarks from the AU-EU Innovation Agenda Working Group Co-Chairs and the Africa-Europe Foundation, reaffirming the shared commitment of Africa and Europe to advance climate resilience and sustainable energy through research, innovation and partnership, in the context of the joint AU-EU Innovation Agenda.

The series of biannual Workshops implementing the Agenda will continue in 2026.

More information

AU-EU Innovation Interface