International partnership building in low and middle income countries

Specific Challenge: To reinforce cooperation and strategic partnership with selected countries and regions in areas of mutual interest.

Targeted countries: Low and middle income countries[1] in sub-Saharan Africa

Scope: The aim is to launch a set of targeted collaborative research projects addressing the requirements of end-user communities in developing countries. Specific technological targets could include for example co-design, adaptation, demonstration and validation (e.g. pilots) of ICT related research and innovation in relevant thematic areas addressed by Horizon 2020 including Content Technologies and Societal Challenges.

Activities under this objective should be led by a clearly defined user need/market opportunity for the technology being adapted; they should in particular include requirements of developing countries, and where possible, have the potential for wider impact by involving a number of countries from the same region. Proposals should be submitted by a complementary partnership with a particular focus on the participation of relevant developing country innovation stakeholders and end-user community representatives (e.g. relevant public, private, education and research, and societal sector organisations, Innovation Spaces and Living Labs).

Expected impact:

         Development of relevant technology responding to specific needs and conditions of the target country.

         Reinforced international dimension of the ICT and Innovation aspects of Horizon 2020 and a higher level of international cooperation with low and middle income countries in ICT R&D and Innovation, focusing on areas that are beneficial to the target countries/region.

Types of action:

Research & Innovation Actions – Proposals requesting a Small contribution are expected

[1] See World Bank country classification.