Dr. Bettina Stark-Watzinger, the Minister of Education and Research of the Federal Republic of Germany, and Ambassador Andreas Peschke, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in South Africa, addressed the Research Networks for Health Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa Conference.
The conference's title and program emphasized three key priority areas of South Africa's new Decadal Plan for Science, Technology, and Innovation: the promotion of research networks, support for health innovation, and commitment to Pan-African cooperation. The alignment between the Research for Health Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa program, and the Decadal Plan was reviewed, and the importance of networks and partnerships was emphasized. The second area of alignment is the focus on health innovation, and the third area is the commitment to support Pan-African cooperation in research and innovation. Dr. Stark-Watzinger's visit was symbolized by the signing of a Declaration, to establish a Joint South African – German Research Chair on the Just Energy Transition.
She will also visit the South African site of the global Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope. The conference is an ideal opportunity to review the alignment between the Research for Health Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa program and the Decadal Plan. The Participants are expected to be partners in its implementation