JRC scientists have worked in Africa for more than three decades. This scientific relationship has grown from a handful of projects in the 1990s to a rich portfolio of research currently being showcased in the Africa Knowledge Platform. To better appreciate this evolution, the AKP team carried out a detailed bibliometric analysis of peer-reviewed research with a focus on Africa; produced by the JRC or funded by the EU Framework Programmes. Collaborative research links between Europe and Africa have grown and the JRC plays the role of scientific matchmaker by fostering collaborative links between its partners.  Research increasingly tries to solve global issues – including biodiversity loss – because thematic focus has become more interdisciplinary and early technical work on earth observation has evolved into tackling applied issues around natural resources, land cover, and biological risks and impacts. These results underline Horizon Europe’s priority to address global challenges, including the green transition, through its dedicated Africa Initiative. An interactive summary of the report is available as a digital storymap on the Africa Knowledge Platform.

Read the report.