Circle
Investing in Africa’s R&D and Innovation for Shared Health Security
Follow Up to The Africa Roundtable N°10
Circle: Investing in Africa’s R&D and Innovation for Shared Health Security
October 12, 2026
Berlin
Africa is investing more in its own health research, but spending remains well below the global average. Just 0.45% of GDP currently goes to research and development, compared with 1.7% worldwide. And much of the research on health issues affecting Africa is still conducted outside the continent.
Increasing investment could change that. Africa CDC and Team Europe estimate that stronger investment in health research and development could generate an additional USD 668 billion in economic output over the next 20 years. Across the continent, companies and governments are already developing solutions in areas such as genomics, diagnostics, and vaccine production.
As this capacity grows, Africa will be better positioned to respond to future health threats and to develop solutions that serve both its own needs and the world. This could also open up new avenues for cooperation with Europe.
What could that cooperation look like in practice? We explored this at our follow-up to the 10th edition of The Africa Roundtable. Representatives from business, government, and academia discussed how Africa and Europe can work together to strengthen and scale health research and innovation in Africa, and, in turn, health security on both continents.
Investing in Africa's R&D and Innovation for Shared Health Security: Follow Up of The Africa Roundtable N°10
Ausgewählte Sprecher:innen
Contact Persons
Stephanie Igunbor, s.igunbor@globalperspectives.org
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