12. Feb. 2024

MSCAdvocacy Expands Collaboration with Leading Universities and Research Hubs.

In a significant stride towards enhancing research collaboration between South Africa and the EU, MSCAdvocacy visited key South African institutions. This visit marked a crucial step in discussing current opportunities and challenges in promoting the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme to a wider range of researchers and scientific institutions in South Africa.

Many universities in South Africa are already active participants in the MSCA programme, contributing in a variety of ways to research and innovation. The MSCAdvocacy visit to key South African institutions, including the University of Cape Town, ENRICH in Africa, Stellenbosch University, the University of Johannesburg, and the Innovation Hub in Gauteng, aimed to build on these existing collaborations and explore new avenues for mutual research growth and development.

Richard Anar, MSCAdvocacy’s Country Liaison Officer for South Africa, met with Lizél Senekal, Manager: Multi-National Grants (left) at Stellenbosch University, and Puseletso Motsomane, Administrative Officer: Research Grants (right) at Stellenbosch University

Richard Anar, MSCAdvocacy’s Country Liaison Officer for South Africa at ZSI, emphasised the significance of this initiative: “By continuously raising awareness about the incredible opportunities offered by the MSCA programme, we aim to fully harness the enormous potential of research in South Africa. Our aim is to maintain close contact with policy-makers and key decision-makers in academia, the public, and private sectors. This is crucial for understanding their specific needs within the MSCA framework and for fostering a conducive environment for research and innovation.”

Throughout the visit, the team engaged in productive discussions with various stakeholders, focusing on two of MSCAdvocacy’s primary objectives: to assess trends in collaboration with local stakeholders, and to support the development of collaborative mechanisms for effective international research collaboration.

Richard Anar, MSCAdvocacy’s Country Liaison Officer for South Africa, also met with Zandile Ntuli, ENRICH in Africa Center Manager

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Related Articles:

• Project: International Advocacy for the Strategic Alignment of MSCA Cooperation Mechanisms in Key Partner Countries and Regions