EU Launches €100M Africa-EU Space Partnership to Boost Climate Resilience and Innovation
The EU launched a €100M Africa-EU Space Partnership to enhance climate resilience, strengthen collaboration, and boost Africa’s space industry.
At the EU Space Conference in Brussels, the European Commission announced the “Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme.” This initiative, backed by a €100 million investment, forms a critical part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy to deepen space cooperation between the EU and Africa.
The programme will focus on three key priorities:
First, it will advance the green transition by developing space-based services that enhance early warning systems for hazardous weather and climate-related events. This will improve disaster preparedness and response on the African content which is disproportionally affected by climate change.
Second, it will strengthen institutional collaboration between the EU and African nations to enhance decision-making and improve policy frameworks in the space sector.
Finally, the programme will strengthen the private sector by enhancing the capabilities of the space industry, driving innovation, and fostering a dynamic space-based data economy to promote sustainable growth across the continent.
It will actively engage European private companies in areas such as service provision, capacity building, and innovation. This collaboration will not only support Africa’s space capabilities but also create opportunities for the European space industry by expanding markets, fostering innovation, and enhancing the global competitiveness of EU companies.
The Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme represents an important part for our cooperation with Africa, as we work together to harness the power of space technology to address global challenges. This initiative will strengthen Africa’s resilience to the consequences of climate change, but also drive digitalisation and also enable us to build lasting partnerships, share knowledge, and innovate together. Space is the new frontier of progress, and through this programme, we are ensuring that Africa can also enjoy its benefits.
– Jozef Síkela, Commissioner for International Partnerships
