Europeans to increase research cooperation with Africa

* "Positive partnership clinched at EU–Africa summit," Katherine Nightingale, SciDev.Net, 14 December 2007.

Science and technology is one of the priority partnerships adopted by Africa and the European Union (EU) as part of a joint action plan at the EU–Africa Summit in Lisbon, Portugal last week (8–9 December).

Eight 'partnerships' — each with priority action points — were adopted, including one on 'Science, Information Society and Space', which aims to build science and technology (S&T) capacity in Africa to reduce poverty and promote social and economic development.

* "Africa and EU deepen S&T relationship," Carol Campbell, SciDev.Net, 11 December 2007.

The European Commission, the governing body of the European Union (EU), has approved a high-level network to promote cooperation in science and technology between African and European scientists on projects of mutual interest and benefit.

The four-year initiative, CAAST-Net — Coordination and Advancement of sub-Saharan Africa-EU Science and Technology Cooperation Network — is supported by the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Comment: The United States should follow suite, not only because international cooperation is one of the best ways to build the scientific capacity that Africa needs to address its urgent development problems, but also because eventually good relations with Africa will pay benefits to American science, international commerce and security. JAD