Germany to fund collaborative research projects with African academics
Germany's Volkswagen Foundation is to fund cooperative research projects in sub-Saharan Africa with the aim of driving capacity building and providing sustainable support for academics in the region. In general, the selected projects under the 'Knowledge for Tomorrow' programme, which must involve both African and German academics, will enhance the international competitiveness of Africa's academic community, address questions and issues of central significance for the development of Africa, and make an efficient and effective use of local resources and assets. Prior to funding projects, the Foundation will organise exploratory workshops in Africa aimed at defining research priorities and identifying possible partnerships. Potential areas for research are outlined by the Foundation, and include, in the fields of humanities and social sciences: - the sustainable utilisation of resources between local production and global economic development; - possibilities of and limits to societal and economic control; - processes of identity-shaping and democratisation; - the future of social and cultural traditions. In the fields of natural and engineering sciences and medicine, two different categories of project are eligible for funding: - projects on topical and internationally competitive themes (not necessarily of specific relevance for Africa) which promise sustainable development and capacity boosting, for example supramolecular chemistry and nanosciences; - issues of particular relevance for Africa, such as those relating to resource management and supply, or addressing Africa's unique biodiversity conditions.
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Germany