Reinforcing Team Belgium within Team Europe
The European Union is increasingly investing in research and innovation in collaboration with Africa and the Mediterannean region. The AU-EU Innovation Agenda is a prime example of forward-thinking to guide concrete actions, within the broader framework of the Global Gateway Strategy. Team Belgium invests in collaboration with these regions through different channels, both at federal as well as regional level.
Belgian actors in science, innovation and higher education are increasing their collaboration in support of the wider European agenda, and aim to decrease fragmentation. Team Belgium was present at the Innovation Fair to emphasize our increased collaboration.
Team Belgium also actively contributes to the 9th Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) of the AU-EU High Level Policy Dialogue on Science, Technology and Innovation. Team Belgium is furthermore ready to support current and future priorities decided by the SOM. Team Belgium is also looking forward to co-implementing upcoming EU funded programmes based on the principles of equal partnership together with institutions from our extensive African partner network.
The Draghi report on European Competitiveness highlights the key role universities and universities of applied sciences, and calls for increased investment and ambition in research, innovation and higher education. Global academic cooperation is not a cost, but a strategic investment in knowledge, trust, and long-term stability, essential at a time when shared values like human rights, democracy, and academic freedom are increasingly at stake.