Brussels, September 18, 2013: The African-European Radio Astronomy Platform (AERAP) will host a stakeholder networking dinner in the framework of EU-Africa cooperation on Science, Technology and Innovation Validation Workshop which consists of several meetings in Brussels devoted to improving African-European cooperation in the fields of science, technology and innovation. 

The AERAP stakeholder networking dinner will take place on September 18 in Brussels. The dinner will be a further occasion for discussions on how to enhance knowledge and innovation partnerships between Africa and Europe.

AERAP (www.aerap.org) is stakeholder platform established in 2012 to promote mutually beneficial African-European partnerships in radio astronomy, consistent with the recommendations of the European Parliament’s Written Declaration 45/2011 and the African Union Assembly’s call for radio astronomy to be one of the priority focus areas for cooperation in science, information society and space between Africa and the European Union.

The dinner will be held in the context of the two-day EU-Africa cooperation on Science, Technology and Innovation event which includes workshops and meeting on the following:

• A validation workshop on the expert study: ‘mapping of best practice regional and multi-country cooperative STI initiatives between Africa and Europe – Identification of effective financial mechanism(s) 2008-2012’;

• A stakeholder workshop to consider options for enhancing knowledge and innovation partnerships under the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES);

• A preparatory meeting between EC and EU Member States; 

• A preparatory meeting between AUC and AU Member States; and 

• EU-Africa High Level Policy Dialogue Bureau meeting. 

Events will be held at the European Commission - DG Research and Innovation and the South African Embassy.

For further information please contact:

Svea Miesch

ISC Intelligence in Science

Email: svea.miesch@iscintelligence.com

Tel: +32 2 8888 100

www.iscintelligence.com

Media Enquiries

Jessica Hadjis

ISC Intelligence in Science

Email: jessica.hadjis@iscintelligence.com

Phone: +32 2 88 88 100

Mob: +32 487 163 107

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Editor’s Note

The African-European Radio Astronomy Platform (AERAP)

AERAP  is a response to the calls of the European Parliament, through the adoption of the Written Declaration 45/2011, and of the Heads of State of the African Union, through their decision “Assembly/AU/Dec.407 CXVIII”, for radio astronomy to be a priority focus area for Africa—EU cooperation. AERAP is a new stakeholder forum of industry, academia and the public sector established to define and implement priorities for radio astronomy cooperation between Africa and Europe. The overall goals of the platform are to leverage radio astronomy, advance scientific discovery, improve knowledge transfer and stimulate competitiveness across both continents. The platform will also enable effective dialogue to build a shared vision for international cooperation in radio astronomy. 

Further information on AERAP: www.aerap.org