Applications are now open for the AEIP Scholars Programme 2026–2027, inviting exceptional early-career researchers from Africa and Europe who are committed to advancing research, driving innovation, and building meaningful international partnerships. This initiative provides selected participants with a unique platform to engage in cross-continental teamwork, jointly develop applied research solutions, reinforce academic ties between the two regions, and help tackle major shared global challenges.
Created by the Africa-Europe Innovation Platform (AEIP), the Scholars Programme operates as a structured collaborative research effort aimed at deepening scientific cooperation across Africa and Europe. Participants engage in peer learning, joint research activities, innovation development, and science communication. The goal is to convert academic findings into practical outcomes that deliver tangible benefits for communities, institutions, women, and young people.
Chosen scholars join a competitive international cohort and work directly with counterparts from the other continent. They also gain the chance to present their work at the high-profile AEIP Stakeholder Meeting scheduled for June 2027 in Europe. The application window remains open until the closing date of 31 August 2026.
What is the AEIP Scholars Programme?
The AEIP Scholars Programme functions as a research-impact initiative that links early-career scholars from Africa and Europe. It promotes interdisciplinary approaches and helps establish lasting cooperative relationships between the regions. Instead of working in isolation, selected participants are matched with peers from the opposite continent. Together they refine and expand existing research into innovative, solution-oriented outputs.
The programme prioritises turning scholarly knowledge into usable innovations that respond to common challenges affecting both Africa and Europe. It further supports participants in growing their global networks while building practical competencies in collaborative research methods, maximising research impact, developing innovations, communicating science effectively, forming international partnerships, exchanging knowledge, and navigating cross-cultural academic environments.
It also encourages scholars to expand their international networks while developing skills in:
- Collaborative research
- Research impact
- Innovation
- Science communication
- International partnership building
- Knowledge exchange
- Cross-cultural academic collaboration
Programme Objectives
The programme works to deepen ties between African and European researchers by advancing projects that support the AU-EU Innovation Agenda, with particular emphasis on the Capacities for Science Action. Key aims include fostering joint research efforts across the two continents, stimulating innovation through interdisciplinary teamwork, facilitating knowledge sharing among scholars, reinforcing enduring academic partnerships, backing research that delivers practical responses to global issues, generating innovative solutions with clear societal benefits, strengthening skills in science communication, and expanding international research networks.
Understanding the AU-EU Innovation Agenda
The Scholars Programme is aligned with the Capacities for Science Action of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda. This framework seeks to enhance scientific collaboration through a wide range of activities. These include closer links between African and European universities, partnerships involving research institutions, joint innovation projects, academic exchange schemes, knowledge-transfer efforts, learning-mobility opportunities. It also helps in the following:
- Research collaborations addressing socioeconomic challenges
- Joint training programmes Recognition of higher education qualifications
- Academic and professional mobility Curriculum development
- Capacity building for students, researchers and postdoctoral fellows
- Digital education systems
- Digital transformation
- Digital skills development
- Youth employability
- Reducing talent drain
- Inclusive innovation ecosystems
Through their participation, scholars contribute directly to these shared international goals.
How the Programme Works
The initiative follows a clear, step-by-step collaborative structure.
In the first stage, organisers select a total of ten scholars drawn from both Africa and Europe.
In the second stage, each selected scholar is paired with a counterpart from the other continent, resulting in five Africa-Europe research pairs. Pairings are determined according to overlapping research interests, complementary skills, and related academic themes.
During the third stage, each pair jointly designs a collaborative research activity, produces a shared research output, and develops a practical innovation grounded in their work. The focus remains on generating research that yields real-world applications rather than purely theoretical results.
In the fourth stage, an expert panel evaluates the completed outputs against criteria such as degree of innovation, practicality, potential for scaling, social impact, and overall research quality.
The fifth stage involves a competitive pitching process in which the strongest pairs present their solutions. The three highest-ranked teams advance as finalists.
In the final stage, the finalist teams receive full sponsorship to attend the AEIP Stakeholder Meeting in Europe in June 2027, where they present their collaborative research to stakeholders, specialists, and innovation leaders.
Evaluation Criteria
At the application stage, submissions are assessed on the relevance of the proposed research, demonstrated academic excellence, potential for innovation, and alignment with Africa-Europe cooperation priorities.
During the collaborative phase, solutions are evaluated according to their potential impact on women and youth, capacity to strengthen communities and institutions, overall strength of the proposed approach, incorporation of technology-driven innovation, practical feasibility, and realistic prospects for implementation.
Expected Programme Outcomes
The programme seeks to deliver lasting benefits that include joint Africa-Europe research outputs, innovative practical solutions, stronger international academic partnerships, improved research capacity among participants, more effective knowledge exchange, initiatives that support sustainable development, more inclusive innovation ecosystems, and enhanced cross-border scientific collaboration.
Benefits of the AEIP Scholars Programme
Participants gain substantial academic and professional advantages. These encompass the chance to collaborate with talented young researchers from another continent, the formation of lasting cross-continental research partnerships, valuable peer-learning experiences, greater visibility for their research, expanded international professional networks, hands-on experience in developing innovations, strengthened science-communication abilities, direct feedback from expert reviewers, the opportunity to present work to an international audience of stakeholders, fully sponsored attendance at the AEIP Stakeholder Meeting in Europe for finalist teams, improved career-development prospects, and the ability to contribute meaningfully to solutions for shared global challenges.
Who Can Apply?
Young scholars who meet all eligibility conditions are invited to apply. Applicants must be aged between 25 and 35 years, based in either Africa or Europe, and currently enrolled in a PhD programme, postdoctoral programme, or other further studies during the application period. They must also have ongoing or completed research projects, theses, or dissertations whose focus aligns with the Capacities for Science Action of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda.
Application Requirements
Candidates submit an Expression of Interest that contains a research abstract. The abstract should clearly illustrate the relevance of the research, its academic quality, its innovative character, its potential impact, and its consistency with Africa-Europe priorities.
Programme Timeline
Applications open and the programme is officially launched during July and August 2026. The firm application deadline is 31 August 2026. In September 2026 the ten scholars are selected and paired across continents. Collaborative research and the development of joint outputs take place from September 2026 through March 2027. Project evaluation and selection of the top three pairs occur in the first half of April 2027. The AEIP Stakeholder Meeting in Europe, featuring final presentations by the top three pairs, is held in June 2027.
How to Apply
Eligible candidates should submit their Expression of Interest via the official Africa-Europe Innovation Platform application process before the deadline. Applicants are advised to prepare a strong research abstract that highlights originality, research excellence, practical relevance, innovation potential, and clear alignment with the AU-EU Innovation Agenda. Submitting early is strongly recommended.
Submit your Expression of Interest by Applying Now!!!
Need Assistance?
For any programme-related questions, contact the organisers at info@africaeuropeinnovation.net. Please include “Scholars Programme” in the email subject line.
Application Deadline
The deadline is 31 August 2026. Late submissions are unlikely to be accepted, so interested scholars should submit their Expression of Interest well ahead of the closing date.
Conclusion
The AEIP Scholars Programme 2026–2027 provides an outstanding chance for early-career researchers from Africa and Europe to work across borders, convert academic research into practical solutions, and build stronger international scientific partnerships. By integrating innovation, knowledge exchange, and interdisciplinary collaboration, the programme equips the next generation of scholars to address global challenges while expanding their academic and professional networks. Young researchers seeking international exposure, hands-on collaborative research experience, and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful innovation will find this programme an excellent platform for growth. Eligible candidates are encouraged to prepare their strongest research abstracts and submit applications before 31 August 2026.