Resources & New Publications
Dashboard of the AU–EU Innovation Agenda Initiatives Updated
The AU-EU Innovation Agenda Dashboard, a living and interactive inventory of initiatives contributing to the implementation of this joint policy, has just been updated. The latest quarterly update adds new projects, programmes, and partnerships, further strengthening the visibility of Africa-Europe initiatives, while stimulating further collaborations. Designed to foster synergies indeed and connect stakeholders, the Dashboard supports collaboration across ecosystems and helps translate research and innovation into tangible impact. More here.
From Diplomacy about technology to diplomacy through technology : A Three-Dimensional Framework for Tech Diplomacy
This paper published by The Tech Diplomacy Global Institute (TDGI) introduces a conceptual and operational framework to better understand and practice Tech Diplomacy in today’s complex global environment. It argues that diplomacy must evolve from being about technology to engaging with and through technology, reflecting its growing influence on international relations, governance, and cooperation.
As technology continues to shape global power dynamics and multilateral engagement, this framework seeks to advance shared understanding and informed action in fostering a more inclusive, collaborative, and forward-looking approach to global tech governance. Read the full article here.
Prioritizing food safety issues related to chemical water quality in agrifood systems
Reliable access to safe and sufficient water is critical to food security and protecting public health. However, water systems face unprecedented pressure from climate change and rising demand. Agriculture, the largest user of freshwater globally, increasingly relies on alternative water sources, some of which may contain chemical contaminants that pose potential risks to food safety. While progress has been made on identifying microbial risks in agrifood water sources, guidance on chemical hazards remains limited.
By outlining approaches for assessing and managing waterborne chemical hazards, this publication addresses gaps in food safety risk management and offers guidance on many of these contaminants. Emerging issues, such as new technologies, the use of alternative water sources, and chemical mixtures, further complicate the landscape, highlighting the need for continuous adaptation of risk assessment frameworks.
Towards innovation in West African business sophistication: Lessons from the Eurozone
This paper examines the key factors influencing innovation in business sophistication in West Africa, drawing lessons from the Eurozone. Using panel data (2013–2022) from 15 West African and 20 Eurozone countries, it applies non- and semi-parametric modelling (GAM).
The findings show that human development in West Africa has not yet reached the threshold needed to positively impact innovation. In contrast, the Eurozone displays a non-linear relationship, with a Human Development Index threshold of 0.861 required to support innovation. Political stability and non-violence positively influence innovation in both regions. The study highlights the need to strengthen human development and education, improve institutional quality, and enhance access to private sector financing through support for public-private partnerships in R&D. Read more here.
Africa and Europe should put trade at the centre of their relations
When global leaders gathered in Addis Ababa at the 39th African Union Summit in mid-February to set and align priorities in key areas, the headlines and discussions focused on geopolitics, security and climate. But beneath these urgent themes lies a quieter, transformative opportunity: trade. If approached with ambition and balance, trade can become one of the most powerful levers for a new era of collaboration between Africa and Germany and, eventually, across the entire Africa-Europe partnership.
How can philanthropy help address financing gaps in sustainable development
The third edition of this OCDE report provides new evidence on where private philanthropy can help. Drawing on data from over 500 philanthropic organisations, it examines funding flows, partnerships and practices across low- and middle-income countries. It shows that philanthropy brings distinct strengths, including flexibility, risk tolerance and the ability to support innovation, while also highlighting gaps in scale, co-ordination and local engagement.
AI is turning research into a scientific monoculture
Generative AI is rapidly reshaping research agendas across the social and behavioural sciences. Conferences, journals, and funding calls are increasingly dominated by AI-related topics, with many researchers rebranding their work accordingly.
While this shift reflects the importance of AI, emerging evidence suggests it may be driving a scientific monoculture. Research is becoming more uniform—not only in topics, but also in how questions are framed and studied.
This convergence risks limiting diversity in scientific inquiry. However, if understood as a feedback loop rather than an inevitable trend, it creates opportunities for targeted interventions.
Preserving diversity in research approaches is essential before monoculture becomes fully entrenched. More here.
Research today is evermore international.
As research systems become more interconnected and fast-moving, safeguarding integrity requires more joined-up approaches. What is needed is coordination, shared evidence, and sustained collaboration across borders, roles, and disciplines.
This is the thinking behind the newly published joint statement by the European Network of Research Integrity Offices (ENRIO) and Science Europe. It reflects a growing alignment between research organisations, research integrity offices, and all research stakeholders on how to move from principles to practice – and from parallel efforts to a more coherent ecosystem. More here.
New control material to improve protection of consumers from food poisoning
A JRC-developed certified reference material (CRM) is now available to help ensure more reliable measurements of cereulide toxin in different foods. It will help food control laboratories across the EU and beyond to improve detection of cereulide, a toxin that can cause serious food poisoning. The CRM will help labs to measure cereulide in starch-rich foods such as rice, pasta and potato-based dishes which are often sources of food-poisoning outbreaks caused by cereulide. More here.
Building Synergies for Deforestation-Free Value Chains: Team Europe Initiative (TEI) Dialogue in Brussels
A Brussels Dialogue on Deforestation-Free Value Chains, on 23 March 2026 brought together practitioners working across different regions, commodities and thematic areas to strengthen collaboration, share progress, and assess implementation of support measures preparing partner countries for deforestation-free supply chains and in compliance with the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR). Key takeaways include: stronger collaboration across TEI flagships; focus on communicating impact and strengthening the Team Europe approach. More here.
EU strengthens science diplomacy and research security to support global research cooperation
As geopolitical competition intensifies, research and innovation are becoming central to global influence and economic strength.
The European Commission has introduced new measures to strengthen international cooperation while safeguarding Europe’s strategic interests and maintaining openness. These efforts also aim to enhance Europe’s attractiveness for global talent and innovation.
A European Framework for Science Diplomacy, published in February 2025, reflects input from 130 experts following a year-long consultation. Research security has also become a priority, addressing risks such as knowledge leakage, foreign interference, and ethical breaches. In 2024, the EU adopted a Council Recommendation to guide coordinated and proportionate responses.
The second report on the Global Approach to Research and Innovation (2023–2025) outlines progress made between June 2023 and December 2025. More here.
Leveraging digital innovation to promote agricultural insurance among small-scale farmers
Insurance technology (Insurtech) remains underdeveloped in many low- and middle-income countries, particularly in agriculture.
Few agri-insurance solutions have reached scale, and those that have are mostly found in regions with more advanced digital finance systems, such as East Africa. Small-scale farmers continue to face limited access to affordable and effective insurance products.
At the same time, Insurtech start-ups encounter major barriers, including high capital requirements and complex regulatory frameworks. As a result, many require substantial financial and technical support to grow. This study explores how digital innovation can improve the design, delivery, and accessibility of agricultural insurance. The goal is to strengthen the resilience and livelihoods of vulnerable smallholder farmers, particularly in the face of climate-related risks. More here.
News from CGIAR
UCN and CGIAR join forces to drive Nature-Positive transformation of Global Food and Agricultural Systems
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation on global food and agriculture systems.
The partnership focuses on nature-positive production, land restoration, and transforming food systems.
Around one billion people depend on nature-based livelihoods such as farming, fishing, and forestry. Biodiversity is essential for food security and resilient rural economies.
This collaboration aims to support a transition to systems that protect nature while ensuring human well-being.
Key priorities include ecosystem restoration, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience and mitigation. The agreement also covers water resource management and biodiversity-friendly value chains.
It will promote joint policy advocacy, knowledge generation, and support for the Rio Conventions.
Overall, the partnership seeks to scale up and accelerate action for sustainable and resilient food systems.
Pastoralism as a Viable Economic System, not a Last Resort
Pastoralism should be recognised as a viable economic system rather than a last-resort livelihood. Its value is often underestimated due to informal markets and limited representation in official data.
Rangelands cover over half of the Earth’s land and support around 2 billion people. Pastoral systems are efficient and adaptable but difficult to measure within conventional frameworks.
This contributes to limited policy attention and underinvestment.
Meanwhile, rangeland degradation is increasing, threatening ecosystems and livelihoods. These losses also have significant economic impacts. Despite their importance, less than 5% of climate finance supports pastoral systems. Evidence shows that targeted investments can enhance resilience and deliver strong returns.
Recognising pastoralism’s economic role is key to better policies and investments. More here.
Accelerating research and innovation for high-potential carbon removal approaches
RMI‘s CDRi team (my team) collaborated with Frontier and others to build one of the first comprehensive databases mapping research and innovation gaps across durable carbon dioxide removal pathways. Three years later, more than 60 percent of those gaps have seen meaningful progress helping move carbon removal from early lab concepts toward real-world deployment and verified credits. Now, Frontier has launched its 2026 Innovation program, expanding beyond prepurchases to include targeted research and development grants with more flexible funding to address the highest-impact remaining bottlenecks.
The focus: unlocking high-potential pathways like ocean alkalinity enhancement and surficial mineralization, and building scalable, lower-cost measurement tools for open systems. More here.
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