Previous programmes in a nutshell

Research and innovation have long being recognised by the EU and the OACPS member countries as important aspects of their cooperation, and have been so far supported by three consecutive Intra-ACP programmes aimed at strengthening research and innovation systems.

ACP Science and Technology Programme

(Phases I and II; 2008-2018)
The programme aimed to ensure that activities in the field of science and technology (S&T) capacity building in the ACP countries were relevant to socio-economic development priorities as defined at national and regional levels. The two phases were financed through the 9th and 10th EDF, as well as through the EU Budget line for South Africa, with budgets of EUR 33 and 20.8 million respectively.

The overall objective of Phase I was to support ACP countries in formulating and implementing S&T policies that can lead to sustainable development and poverty reduction through economic growth and progressive integration in the world economy. 

The objectives of Phase II were: to address the scientific and technological divide between ACP countries and the most industrialised countries; to strengthen science, technology and innovation (STI) in ACP countries to enable the creation, update and use of scientific knowledge; and to enhance the use of STI as a key enabler for poverty reduction, growth and socio-economic development. The Programme was based upon the conviction that STI are major drivers for poverty reduction in ACP countries. The application of knowledge gained from S&T can boost innovation and lead to the development of appropriate technologies that can be effectively deployed within the context of local needs and resources.

Whereas Phase I addressed a multitude of thematic areas (Quality health care, Environmental research, Energy, Transport, Agriculture and agro-industry, and Sustainable trade), Phase II focused only on ‘Energy access and efficiency’ and ‘Agriculture and food security’.

Projects selected for funding under the two phases of the ACP S&T Programme were identified through open Calls for Proposals (2008: 36 projects; 2012: 21 projects) targeting networks of scientific and higher education institutions from ACP countries. In many cases, they worked closely with counterpart institutions from EU countries and other relevant actors, such as public authorities and civil society organisations, around a joint project in the fields of STI. 

ACP Caribbean & Pacific Research Programme for Sustainable Development

(2010-2018)
The programme (financed through the 10th EDF; budget of EUR 4.8 million) was complementary to other ACP and/or EU initiatives such as the EDULINK and ACP S&T programmes and the FP7 Framework Programme for Research. The inclusion of S&T is imperative for Caribbean and Pacific (C&P) countries to become more resilient to adverse impacts of climate change, self-sufficient, and to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular the ‘eradication of extreme poverty and hunger’. The objective of this programme was to contribute to sustainable development of C&P countries belonging to the ACP Group of States through research in science and technologies by supporting research projects in the fields of ‘Agriculture and post-harvest’, ‘Renewable and sustainable energy’, ‘Water and sanitation’ and ‘Climate change’.  

The 10 projects selected for funding under this programme were identified through an open Call for Proposals (2010) addressing networks of research institutions from C&P countries working closely around a joint project, sometimes in association with counterpart institutions from EU or other countries and other relevant actors, such as public authorities and civil society organisations.

ACP-EU Cooperation Programme in Higher Education, EDULINK (2006-2018)

(2006-2018)
The programme’s overall objective was to foster capacity building and regional integration in higher education through institutional networking in order to improve the effectiveness, management and visibility of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of ACP countries, and to ensure their competitiveness in the global environment.

The first phase of this programme started in 2006 with the launch of three calls for proposals financed under the 9th EDF, with an aggregate budget of EUR 30 million. The three calls financed 66 grant projects which involved 210 higher education institutions from ACP and EU countries. These projects produced a wide range of academic outcomes, from short- to long-term degrees, several hundred publications, and training to thousands of students and teaching staff of the participating ACP institutions. The second phase of EDULINK was designed to expand and enhance these achievements, and focused on the thematic areas of ‘Energy access and efficiency’ and ‘Agriculture and food security’. The 2012 call resulted in 47 grant projects, for a total financing of EUR 22.5 million sourced from both the 10th EDF and the EU Budget (co-operation with South Africa). The projects represent the participation of 101 HEIs from 43 ACP countries, as well as 50 HEIs from 13 EU countries.