ENRICH IN AFRICAInauguration of ENRICH in Africa Center by Steinbeis Europa Zentrum and partners

On Wednesday 14 June 2023 the ENRICH in Africa Center (EiA) is inaugurated at the French Tech Hub in Century City, Cape Town, South Africa.

ENRICH in Africa project directors Eduardo Herrmann (Steinbeis Europa Zentrum), Christophe Viarnaud (Methys Consulting (Pty) Ltd) and Philip Kiracofe  (CEO of Startupbootcamp Afritech) host the ribbon cutting ceremony where European Commission Director for Global Approach and International Cooperation in Research & Innovation, Ms Maria Cristina Russo Deputy Director-General for International Cooperation and Resources at the South African Department of Science and Innovation, Mr Daan Du Toit and the EU Ambassador to South Africa, H.E. Ms Sandra Kramer officiate the event.

This will embark on a new journey that marks EiA’s transition from a project funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme into a Center.

The EiA Center has been developed within the framework of the ENRICH in Africa project funded by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020  Framework Programme. The founding partners include key innovation players from Africa and Europe, coordinated by Steinbeis Europa Zentrum (Steinbeis 2i) in Germany.

“Our key mission is to strengthen the EU-Africa tech and innovation ecosystems, supporting innovators collaboration, connecting incubators and accelerators, investors, corporates and policymakers with the aim of enabling positive social impact and green business”, says Eduardo Herrmann, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum.

The European-African innovation community received a significant boost in 2022, with the establishment of the ENRICH in Africa Centre in Cape Town by Steinbeis Europa Zentrum and other partners in the ENRICH project. As coordinator, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum has brought together renowned representatives of the African and European innovation ecosystems to build a consortium able to create true value and impact for the innovation ecosystem of Europe and Africa. A network of incubators and accelerators is being established to provide services based on the principle 'by the community, for the community', strengthening internationalisation and collaboration in the innovation sector.

Results in 2022 show:

• Over 50 accelerators and incubators from Europe and Africa have engaged as members.
• Over 385 European and African members have joined the ENRICH in Africa EuroQuity community, including startups, investors, incubators, and accelerators.
• More than 300 start-ups have been supported, amongst others through needs assessments, participation in investor pitch events, the start-up programme, and the ‘Accelerator Squared’ programme.

African Union (AU) - European Union (EU) Innovation Festival

On behalf of the European Commission and in close collaboration with the African Union Commission, South Africa’s Department of Science and Innovation and the EU Delegation to South Africa, the “African Union (AU) - European Union (EU) Innovation Festival” takes place in Cape Town (South Africa) on Thursday 15^th June at Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). It will run as a large hybrid, whole-day event, which could be attended both in person and online.

Steinbeis Europa Zentrum is coorganizer and will participate with Faith Blakemore as a speaker at the event.

This event aims to kick-start the implementation phase of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda, the new policy initiative aiming to accelerate the translation of Research & Innovation into products, services, businesses and jobs, in Africa and Europe. In particular, the Festival will occur two days after the adoption of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda at the second AU-EU Research & Innovation Ministerial Meeting.

The Festival will therefore bring together innovators’ and entrepreneurs’ insights and perspectives on the AU-EU Innovation Agenda and will feature pitching sessions and exhibitions of innovations from both Africa and Europe.

Further information:

ENRICH in Africa

AU-EU Innovation Festival (service-facility.eu)