Zambia urges EU to cut red tape in accessing €500 million Africa research fund

Zambia has called for the removal of barriers and bureaucratic procedures in accessing the €500 million research funding allocated to Africa under the European Union’s Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025.

The funding, launched through the Africa Initiative III, covers 24 dedicated call topics, including innovation-focused projects.

Speaking at the Research and Innovation Dissemination and Funding Information Workshop in Lusaka on Wednesday, Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati, said it was important that the funds directly benefit African innovators.

“There is urgent need for locally developed research infrastructure ecosystems to reduce challenges faced by researchers and propel innovation,” Mutati said.

He noted that while Zambia had abundant untapped talent, innovation could not thrive without adequate infrastructure.

He urged the EU and African Union (AU) to make stronger investments in research facilities across the continent.

Mutati emphasised the importance of partnerships between governments, the AU, EU, and local innovators in addressing Africa’s pressing challenges.

“African data should be leveraged to solve African problems with African solutions, including the use of Artificial Intelligence to create value,” he said.

He highlighted health, agriculture, and mining as key sectors where research findings can be translated into practical solutions, stressing the need for knowledge dissemination in local languages to engage grassroots innovators.

The workshop brought together stakeholders dedicated to advancing science, technology, and research as drivers of sustainable development.

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