Boosting Research Infrastructure for Development, Growth, and Empowerment in Africa

LAAAMP is a supporter of the project Boosting Research Infrastructure for Development, Growth, and Empowerment in Africa (BRIDGE Africa), funded by the Italian Ministry for University and Research (MUR) through Piano Mattei and the G7 Research Capacity Building with Africa initiative. The project is coordinated by the University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy. Michele Zema, chair of LAAAMP Executive Committee, is the Principal Investigator of the project.

Partnership

Italian consortium: University of Bari (Coordinator); University of Padova; University of Catania

Partners from G7 countries: University of Southampton (UK); University of La Rochelle (France); University of Siegen (Germany)

Partners from Piano Mattei target African countries: Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (Kenya); University of Tunis El Manar (Tunisia); Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh (Morocco); Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni-Mellal (Morocco); Mohamed Khider University of Biskra (Algeria). 

Partners from African countries of MUR interest: University of Johannesburg (South Africa); University of Dschang (Cameroon).

UNESCO Chairs: Nanosciences and Nanotechnology (Malik Maaza, South Africa); Educazione alla salute e allo sviluppo sostenibile (Annamaria Colao, UniNA)

Supporters: African Light Source Foundation; African Academy of Sciences; Materials Research Society of Kenya; Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste; SESAME (Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East); LAAAMP (Lightsources for Africa, the Americas, Asia, Middle East and Pacific); X-TechLab; FAMPO (Federation of African Medical Physics Organizations).

Executive summary

Africa is at a pivotal moment in its pursuit of scientific and technological advancement, with the African Light Source (AfLS) initiative representing a transformative opportunity. The AfLS aims to revolutionize Africa’s research landscape by providing a platform for cutting-edge experimentation and innovation across a range of disciplines. However, realizing the full potential of this initiative and unlocking the continent’s vast potential requires urgent investment in research infrastructure and the development of high-quality educational programs in strategic fields.

The Boosting Research Infrastructure for Development, Growth, and Empowerment in Africa (BRIDGE Africa) project aligns with the AfLS vision by creating pathways to build capacity, cultivate talent, exchange knowledge, and foster international cooperation. BRIDGE Africa seeks to enable the creation of hubs equipped to deliver world-class training and conduct cutting-edge research. These hubs will focus on strategic areas vital for Africa's socio-economic growth and serve as platforms for training the next generation of African scientists, engineers, and innovators. To ensure the long-term impact of the project and establish a legacy, BRIDGE Africa will prioritize the development of robust, innovative and interdisciplinary curricula that align with the needs of African societies and the global knowledge economy.

A key component of BRIDGE Africa is promoting the mobility of students, researchers, and professors. By facilitating exchange programs and transnational access to large research infrastructure, the project will promote knowledge sharing, diversify learning experiences, and enhance collaboration across borders.

BRIDGE Africa aspires to build a resilient foundation for Africa’s scientific and educational ecosystem, by catalysing a new era of scientific excellence and innovation, empowering the continent to achieve its full potential and contribute meaningfully to global challenges.