The evolving role of the European Commission in research on Africa
We examine the EC's role in research related to the African continent, both as a funder of research through the EU research and innovation Framework programmes, and as a producer of research through its Joint Research Centre. We used bibliometrics analyses of 6,849 peer-reviewed scientific articles from the Scopus database to answer three questions. Has the production of research related to Africa changed over time ? How has the collaborative landscape evolved? Has the thematic focus of research changed through the years? We answered these questions separately for EU research funded through the EC, as well as research carried out at the JRC. We presented our main findings on bibliometric trends in the context of science diplomacy between the EU and Africa. We highlighted key policy relevant messages on how and where science helps guiding the implementation of policy instruments, notably the EC Comprehensive Strategy with Africa under the action on scientific capacity.
Future paths for the JRC to best support EU-Africa scientific cooperation could possibly include building capacity on the use of machine learning tools and setting taxonomies to capture interdisciplinarity and synthesise content, as well as institutionalise knowledge brokerage. The recently launched Africa Knowledge Platform is presented as one way forward to defragment knowledge and translate science into policy. This study is also available as a narrative within this platform.
ESTREGUIL Christine;
BUSCHKE Falko;
2022-10-03
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC127569
978-92-76-56184-2 (online),
1831-9424 (online),
EUR 31195 EN,
OP KJ-NA-31-195-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC127569,
10.2760/38335 (online),
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