Liver disease is one of the leading causes of death in Egypt – second only to cardiac disease – and accounts for almost 10% of overall mortality in the country. To make headway in this area of research, two Egyptian and two EU-based partners joined forces in an EU-funded project that also highlighted the importance of the business side of science.
The mix of urbanisation and rising technology use has increased the stream of e-waste in Africa, for which recycling capacity is limited. Waste management infrastructures are few and far between, public awareness of health issues is limited and environmental precautions rare. A team of European and African researchers is working on a solution.
Africa’s ICT infrastructures are fast evolving, creating exciting opportunities for researchers keen to join the global e-science community. Dedicated European-African initiatives are exploring the potential and engaging with stakeholders to raise awareness of the possibilities. An EU-funded project has assisted them in this task.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the documents accompanying shipping containers are always accurate. But you would be wrong — discrepancies are frequent. EU-funded research suggests that a system of trusted trade lanes could address this problem and the associated business and security concerns.
Sidelined for decades because of their traditional way of life, South Africa’s San, also known as Bushmen, are now attracting admiration and respect for their traditional knowledge on the medicinal properties of plants. An EU-funded project is helping the San to share this knowledge and claim their rightful benefits.
Aquaculture is making a vital contribution to feeding the world’s growing population. A project involving one African and several European partners has developed new water purification technologies that remove the nitrogen present in effluent from water used in fish farms. They are likely to reduce the costs and environmental impact of aquaculture waste water.
How extensive is codeine misuse and dependence? Although not yet substantiated, anecdotal evidence suggests the problem is common, making it a concern for public health and pharmacy practice. EU-funded researchers are collecting evidence to feed into guidelines for pharmacies and doctors.
Researchers, politicians and policy-makers from Europe and Africa are addressing major social, economic and environmental challenges through EU-funded projects that aim to foster long-term collaboration in science, technology and innovation.
African and EU countries have long worked together on science and technology research. Now the way they collaborate is being rethought for the modern world. An EU-funded project has used a different approach for a more equal, coordinated research partnership between Africa and the EU.
The phenomena that affect the Mediterranean Sea have implications for the entire region, and they tie in with developments shaping marine environments around the world. But they are not yet fully understood. Tunisia’s main research institute for oceanography has taken steps to boost its potential contribution to international collaborations generating new knowledge.
If there’s one thing North Africa has in abundance, it is sun – and with it, the potential for cheap, plentiful solar power. An EU-funded project is adapting solar technology to the region’s environment and infrastructure, while building local research capacity in the field.
Plants are increasingly traded across borders. But they don’t travel alone – tiny pests can travel with them, some of these are damaging for local crops and other plants. An EU-funded project has made it easier for plant protection agencies to identify pests, stop them spreading and support safer trade.
The ability to observe very high energy gamma radiation has opened a new window on the universe, and researchers around the world are keen to seize the new opportunities it offers. As part of an EU-funded project, they have created an international alliance to move beyond current experimental instruments towards a major telescope array for this new type of observation.
Research infrastructures provide the tools scientists need to understand the world and, in some cases, make it a better place. But these resources – from telescopes to biobanks, and from museum archives to wave energy test sites – cost more than most countries can afford. The EU-funded PAERIP project has started the ball rolling for new partnerships to share resources between Europe and Africa
With cures increasingly available for infectious diseases that hit the world’s poorest regions, doctors need low-cost diagnostic tests to use these new treatments. An EU-funded project helps identify these diseases from early symptoms, saving lives and cutting healthcare costs.
A large number of small communities and towns in Africa suffer from a lack of access to clean water and adequate sanitation – a major health risk. To help, an EU-funded project has developed a planning tool they can use to decide on the most appropriate solutions.
Scientists have long suspected that the acidification of our seas may harm their flora and fauna. But the likely impact in the Mediterranean was a mystery – until now. The knowledge on acidification gained by EU-funded researchers is of great concern – the team is now calling for urgent action to protect the Mediterranean Sea’s precious biodiversity and its many other benefits.
Many African countries lack the skills, resources and funds to efficiently control and manage waste – a threat to the environment and people’s health. An EU-funded project involving European and African partners has provided practical solutions that policymakers and communities can use to resolve a common problem
By 1 December 2014 the first 100 calls had closed. What can we tell about the popularity of the programme, the success of SMEs, the degree to which the programme has attracted newcomers - both as participants and as expert evaluators - the proportion of women experts and the speed with which contracts have been signed? See this new page to find out more!
A drug capable of not only controlling certain autoimmune diseases but also reorienting the immune system has been developed through the EU-funded TRIAD project and is now undergoing clinical trials via a spin-off. Scientists believe that this approach could be the first step towards finding a cure.
