Building Bridges for a Sustainable Future:
EURECA-PRO Connects Europe and South Africa through Responsible Consumption and Production
- News
EURECA-PRO was at the heart of the international research symposium “Building Bridges – The Future of Africa and Europe,” held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 5 to 7 October. Bringing together researchers and key stakeholders from Europe and South Africa, the symposium focused on strengthening international research cooperation and fostering new partnerships. EURECA-PRO joined forces with the Technical University of Leoben, the University of the Witwatersrand and the AfriSMAT Alliance to lead the organisation of the event.
Building bridges, learning from one another, and developing and implementing joint projects were the central themes of the “Building Bridges” initiative. Bringing together researchers from the Technical University of Leoben, the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, the European University Alliance EURECA-PRO and the AfriSMAT alliance, as well as representatives from Austrian ministries, the symposium provided a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue, knowledge exchange and the strengthening of international partnerships, paving the way for future collaborative projects.
Building Future Partnerships Through Science
In addition to governance and economic cooperation, a key element of the initiative was the project-building phase, which focused on developing concrete joint projects in the fields of mining, energy and materials, while fostering new international collaborations. EURECA-PRO and the Technical University of Leoben played a particularly central role during this phase, participating with a joint delegation of 18 representatives and contributing their expertise to the development of future collaborative initiatives.
For the Austrian Ambassador to South Africa, Romana Königsbrun, this was an important step towards further deepening bilateral relations between the two countries:
“Initiatives such as ‘Building Bridges’ provide a valuable platform for exchange at different levels. Austria and South Africa are connected not only by shared values, but also by a shared determination to work towards a sustainable future and pursue new avenues of cooperation. ‘Building Bridges’ creates important connections in this regard and demonstrates how dialogue can lead to concrete projects and long-term partnerships.”
Through direct exchange with researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand and researchers from the AfriSMAT alliance, common research interests were explored and concrete starting points for future research projects and collaborations were developed:
“The symposium not only provided a valuable platform for dialogue between Austrian and African researchers, as well as between the EURECA-PRO and AfriSMAT alliances, but also opened up new perspectives for long-term cooperation. We are particularly pleased to have gained a strong and reliable partner in the University of the Witwatersrand, and the AfriSMAT alliance with whom we look forward to continuing our close collaboration. A particular milestone was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on joint research activities and student exchange, with a focus on key issues for the future, including critical raw materials, new materials and energy,” explained Thomas Prohaska, Vice-Rector of the Technical University of Leoben.
Rodney Genga, Associate Professor of Materials Science and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand and head of the AfriSMAT Alliance, also highlighted the progress achieved as part of the initiative and emphasised the importance of intercontinental cooperation in successfully addressing key technological challenges of the future:
“We are living through a period of profound technological change, and the challenges we face can only be addressed through collaboration. Africa brings vital raw materials, a wealth of emerging talent and valuable expertise, while Europe contributes extensive scientific and technological know-how. The symposium marked an important first step towards bringing these complementary strengths together and developing innovative, sustainable solutions for the future.”
Working across continents and embracing new perspectives was undoubtedly a key theme of the week. Cornelius Hagenmeier, Chair of the EURECA-PRO Executive Board, highlighted the importance of strengthening connections between Europe and Africa:
“We came to Africa because external collaboration is very important to us. We chose South Africa because we share a common foundation of values with many countries across the African continent, rooted in democracy and the rule of law. Africa has a world-class university system, and we are interested in working together to develop an ecosystem in which Europe and Africa can collaborate, build on their respective strengths, and harness synergies. We have therefore used the Building Bridges initiative to quite literally build bridges and to further explore the possibility of establishing a concrete network with the AfriSMAT Alliance.”
Beyond establishing connections and exploring shared ambitions, the symposium also provided space to turn dialogue into action. Dedicated working sessions brought researchers from the EURECA-PRO and AfriSMAT alliances together to exchange perspectives, identify common research interests, and develop ideas for future joint projects.
Sebastian Werle, Vice-Rector for Science and International Cooperation at the Silesian University of Technology, highlighted the value of this collaborative approach: “The challenges facing Africa and Europe are similar, in my opinion. The symposium was an excellent starting point for the EURECA-PRO alliance to engage with African partners, not only to discuss our shared vision but also to develop concrete ideas. Integrating dedicated working sessions into the symposium was particularly valuable. The discussions were engaging and, at times, challenging, but always constructive. Together, we developed a clear and promising vision for future project submissions, laying a strong foundation for successful collaborations and impactful joint projects in the years to come.”
Building Bridges
Overall, around 100 participants from 13 European and African countries came together through the Building Bridges Initiative to develop concrete project proposals and lay the foundations for long-term cooperation.
Asked what connects Europe with South Africa, participants at the symposium emphasised shared values and a common commitment to shaping a sustainable future together.
