Africa-UniNet starts its first call for proposals with a budget of 310,000 euros



Africa-UniNet seeks research projects from 14 Austrian and 25 African universities. The aim is to jointly develop solutions to problems in line with the sustainability agenda.
 The first call for proposals for Africa-UniNet starts on August 1st, 2020 with a budget of 310,000.- euros. International cooperation projects with at least one Austrian and at least one African university, university of applied sciences or research institution may be submitted. The call focuses on scientific research and teaching that can contribute to a sustainable world that is worth living in.
The Federal Minister of Education, Science and Research, Heinz Faßmann, says: "The call for proposals to initiate research projects is intended to boost cooperation between Austrian and African higher education and research institutions. I am pleased that 14 Austrian and 25 African higher education institutions are already members of this important network". At the virtual "European Union-African Union Research and Innovation Ministerial Meeting" on July 16th the Federal Minister of Education, Science and Research Faßmann will exchange views with science ministers of the EU member countries and member countries of the African Union on measures to cope with the COVID-19 crisis.
Hubert Hasenauer, rector of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, has been entrusted with the presidency of Africa-UniNet. He emphasises: "After the successful establishment of Africa-UniNet in January 2020 we are pleased to be able to implement concrete ideas and activities with our African partners by means of this first network call for proposals", says Hubert Hasenauer, Rector of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna and President of Africa-UniNet.
 The OeAD is responsible for the implementation of the funding measures and the network office. Jakob Calice, the OeAD’s managing director, affirms: "With Africa-UniNet Austria creates a space for exchange and partnership between the actors on a personal and institutional level. In this way we want to strengthen academic cooperation between Austria and African countries. Austria still has a lot of research potential that has not yet been sufficiently exploited".
Call for proposals Africa-UniNet
All active Austrian and African members of the network are eligible to submit proposals.
The application period runs from August 1st to September 30th, 2020.
Funds of 310,000.- euros will be available for the cooperation projects.
Application documents:
https://africa-uninet.at/en/activities/the-1st-call-2020
Africa-UniNet: Networking of Austrian and African universities
Africa-UniNet was initiated by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) and developed by the Austrian Agency for International Cooperation in Education and Research (OeAD-GmbH) and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna to create a long-term, stable basis for cooperation between Austrian and African universities and research institutions. Africa-UniNet aims to promote new contacts and intensify scientific cooperation.
www.africa-uninet.at