The 18th meeting of the Joint EU-South Africa Science and Technology Cooperation Committee (JSTCC) took place on 18 June 2026, in Brussels. It was held in the aftermath of the celebratory event of the 30th anniversary of the bilateral EU-South Africa science and technology agreement.
The meeting was co-chaired by Ms Maria Cristina Russo, Deputy Director-General for Innovation, Prosperity and International Cooperation at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), and Mr Daan du Toit, Deputy Director-General for Innovation at South Africa’s Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI). Discussions covered topics of both bilateral and multilateral cooperation on research and innovation (R&I).
On this occasion, the EU and South Africa recognised the strategic importance of their R&I partnership and agreed to deepen their cooperation in a range of priority areas. Accordingly, the 18th EU-South Africa JSTCC affirmed the joint willingness to further enhance the EU-South Africa cooperation through a wider participation of South African R&I institutions in Horizon Europe, the Global Health EDCPT3, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Programme, to include also more Historically Disadvantaged Universities of South Africa.
The EU and South Africa agreed to explore new opportunities for bilateral cooperation on Artificial Intelligence in science, science diplomacy, as well as multilateral frameworks in the areas of bioeconomy, marine research and ocean science and green energy.
During the JSTCC, the two partners exchanged views on the preparations of the high-level engagements foreseen for this year as part of the AU-EU High-Level Policy Dialogue on Science, Technology and Innovation, including the forthcoming second AU-EU R&I Ministerial Meeting (27 October, Addis Ababa), high-level discussions on AI in Science (26 October, Addis Ababa), the AU-EU Innovation Fair with focus on food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture (25 November, Italy) and a Science Diplomacy workshop with focus on research infrastructures (date and venue yet to be confirmed).
The meeting also confirmed continued close cooperation under the AU-EU Partnerships on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) and Climate Change and Sustainable Energy (CCSE), as well as in the ongoing implementation of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda (2023-2033).
Looking ahead, the EU will explore all possible synergies between its instruments, in particular Horizon Europe and the Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package, to maximise the impact of cooperation with South Africa and support sustainable and inclusive development.
Background
The EU-South Africa Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement, executed in 1996 and entered in force since 1997, provides the framework for bilateral cooperation in research and innovation. South Africa is one of the European Union’s leading research and innovation partners in Africa and participates actively in Horizon Europe. The JSTCC guides implementation of the agreement and identifies new priorities for cooperation.
More information
International cooperation with South Africa in Research and Innovation
