Building Bridges Initiative
The future of Africa and Europe
October 5-7, 2026 | Research Symposium
University of the Witwaterstrand | Johannesburg
The Building Bridges Initiative: Africa & EU (BBI-AEU) is an international collaboration platform bringing together researchers, universities, industry leaders, government representatives, and policymakers from Africa and Europe. More than a traditional conference, the symposium is designed to foster meaningful partnerships, encourage knowledge exchange, and support the development of future collaborative projects addressing shared global challenges in sustainability, innovation, and responsible resource management. By connecting academic, industry, and public-sector perspectives, the initiative aims to create a foundation for lasting Africa–Europe collaboration and jointly developed solutions.
A central feature of the symposium will be the dedicated Project Building & Collaboration Phase, during which participants will work together to identify common interests, explore funding opportunities, and develop ideas for future collaborative projects. This phase is designed to translate the exchange of expertise and ideas during the symposium into concrete opportunities for joint research, education, innovation, and capacity building.
The initiative will bring together Austrian stakeholders and EURECA-PRO – the European University on Responsible Consumption and Production, led by Montanuniversität Leoben, with African partners, including the University of the Witwatersrand and the AFRISMAT network. This collaboration aims to strengthen connections between Austria, the wider European network, and African partners, while contributing to shared objectives in education, science, economic cooperation, climate action, and sustainable development.
The delegation will be complemented by representatives from Austrian and South African ministries, industry, and nongovernmental organisations.
The symposium is built around three interconnected missions:
The symposium is built around three interconnected missions: the Scientific Mission, the Governance Mission, and the Economic Mission.
Together, they bring different perspectives into dialogue, connecting scientific knowledge and innovation with effective governance and sustainable economic development. By bridging these three dimensions, the symposium creates a platform where ideas can evolve into lasting partnerships, new opportunities, and collaborative initiatives with a meaningful impact beyond the event itself.
Scientific Mission
Advancing research collaboration, knowledge exchange and joint project development.
Governance Mission
Strengthening international partnerships through dialogue between universities, governments and policy makers.
Economic Mission
Connecting academia with industry to promote innovation, technology transfer and sustainable economic development.
Key Details
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Venue: University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
Symposium: 5 October 2026
Project Building & Collaboration Phase: 6–7 October 2026
The symposium is complemented by a dedicated Project Building & Collaboration Phase, where participants will move beyond presentations to develop collaborative project ideas, explore funding opportunities, and strengthen partnerships between African and European institutions.
Registration:
Participation is limited to 150 participants.
Early registration is strongly recommended.