EU and South Africa joined the Brussels science and cooperation meeting to strengthen partnership

The European Union and South Africa have agreed to further strengthen their long-standing partnership in research and innovation following the 18th Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee (JSTCC) meeting held in Brussels on 18 June 2026

The JSTCC meeting took place shortly after commemorations of the 30th anniversary of the EU-South Africa science and technology agreement.

Officials highlighted the EU-South Africa partnership as a key example of international cooperation that supports scientific progress, skills development, and shared global challenges.

The meeting was co-chaired by Maria Cristina Russo, Deputy Director-General at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, and Daan du Toit from South Africa’s Department of Science, Technology and Innovation.

Expanding access to European research programmes

A key outcome of the JSTCC meeting was a shared commitment to broaden South African participation in major European research frameworks, particularly Horizon Europe.

The EU and South Africa agreed to encourage greater involvement from South African institutions in European research initiatives, including global health research partnerships, researcher mobility schemes, and collaborative scientific networks such as Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and the COST Program. Special emphasis was placed on increasing participation from historically disadvantaged universities in South Africa.

The aim is to ensure a more inclusive research ecosystem while strengthening scientific capacity and knowledge exchange between African and European institutions.

New focus on AI, climate, and ocean science

The JSTCC also identified new strategic areas for future collaboration. These include artificial intelligence in scientific research, science diplomacy, bioeconomy development, marine and ocean science, and green energy transitions.

Officials discussed opportunities to align research efforts with broader development goals, including sustainable resource use and climate resilience. The meeting also highlighted the importance of joint work on emerging technologies such as AI, particularly in improving scientific discovery and research infrastructure.

These priorities build on existing cooperation under the African Union–EU framework and are designed to support long-term innovation partnerships across continents.

Alignment with AU–EU initiatives

The EU and South Africa also reviewed ongoing preparations for upcoming events under the AU-EU High-Level Policy Dialogue on Science, Technology and Innovation.

Key upcoming milestones include an R&I ministerial meeting in Addis Ababa, discussions on artificial intelligence in science, an innovation fair focused on food and nutrition security, and workshops on science diplomacy and research infrastructures.

These initiatives complement wider cooperation programs such as the Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture partnership and the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy collaboration, both part of the broader Africa–EU innovation agenda running through 2033.

Linking research to investment and global impact

Looking ahead, EU and South Africa have agreed to explore stronger synergies between research programs and investment instruments such as the Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package. The goal is to better connect scientific research with real-world innovation, infrastructure development, and sustainable growth.