On Thursday, members of the European Parliament (EP) unveiled the African-European Radio Astronomy Platform (AERAP).
The move was a further step in implementing the Written Declaration 45/2011 on "Science Capacity Building in Africa: promoting European-African Radio Astronomy Partnerships".
The unveiling of the group comes after three successful workshops exploring co-operation with regard to infrastructure investment and technology development, renewable energy solutions for radio astronomy and human capital development.
AERAP is a new stakeholder forum of industry, academia and the public sector established to define and implement priorities for radio astronomy co-operation between Africa and Europe. The overall goals of the platform are to leverage radio astronomy to advance scientific discovery, improve knowledge transfer, and stimulate competitiveness across both continents.
The event, hosted by MEP Britta Thomson, offered stakeholders the opportunity to meet MPs to discuss future co-operation and the needs of the African and European radio astronomy communities.
"The launch of the AERAP group in the EP will be critical in supporting policies that can be beneficial to the scientist and that bring the benefits of science to the citizens in both Europe and Africa," said Thomson, in her keynote address.
"We particularly look forward to engaging with the Irish and Lithuanian Council Presidencies and contributing to strengthened EU-African dialogue as we prepare for the next EU-Africa summit in early 2014," she added.
Additionally, Maria Da Graca Caravalho, MEP, who has been involved in the preparation for the Horizon 2020 package as a reporter on the programme, took part in the bilateral stakeholder meetings.
"The launch of the African-European Radio Astronomy Platform Group in the European Parliament is a very important moment due to the relevance of this project. This project is relevant to both European and African counterparts for the advancement of science and capacity building in Africa. Especially capacity building in the area of research that will have a real impact in people's lives: starting from energy, space to medicine. This is the right way to co-operate with Africa in a partnership - and not only on the basic needs of the African people but going a step further - to a new generation of aid to developing countries," she said.
Anita Loots, associate director for the South African SKA Project, noted how AERAP brings huge opportunities for Africa.
"I think Africa is sending a signal to the world that it is ready to invest in high technology science infrastructure. This launch means we will have a portal to talk to Europe and the world about the needs of Africa to make sure that the investment in Africa is truly done in a collaborated way," she concluded.
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