On May 21st, 2025, a powerful message emerged from Brussels. As African and European ministers gathered for the 3rd EU-AU Ministerial Meeting, commemorating 25 years of collaboration, one line stood out above the rest:
“Ministers took note of the adoption of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda and encouraged researchers and innovators to continue driving their scientific discoveries and innovative solutions for the benefit of sustainable economies and societies.”
For most people, this may seem like a routine policy statement. But for the continent’s growing army of innovators, startups, and change-makers, especially those nurtured by AfriLabs; this was a political green light. A validation. A call to action.
Innovation: From Margins to Mainstream
The AU-EU Innovation Agenda, now in motion through 2033, aims to do more than fund projects or host meetings. It envisions innovation as the heartbeat of development: creating jobs, solving real-world problems, and fostering a new generation of African leadership in science, tech, and entrepreneurship.
And no one is better placed to translate this vision into action than AfriLabs, a network of 500+ innovation hubs across 53 African countries. For over a decade, AfriLabs has acted as the scaffolding of Africa’s innovation ecosystem, turning local problems into scalable solutions and supporting more than 280,000 innovators just last year.
But now, the game is changing.
''This moment also reinforces AfriLabs’ moonshot ambition: to catalyze a $1 trillion digital economy in Africa.''
From Groundwork to Global Agenda
With its deep roots in grassroots innovation, AfriLabs is emerging as a key bridge between communities and policy. The AU-EU Innovation Agenda now officially acknowledges that innovation isn’t just a tech buzzword; it's a strategic pillar in Africa’s development.
That recognition elevates labs, co-working spaces, climate accelerators, and startup incubators into critical infrastructure. It signals that the future of Africa is being written not just in ministries or boardrooms, but also in the hands of young developers coding in Lagos, agritech founders in Kigali, and AI researchers in Nairobi.
What Comes Next: Nairobi 2025
As the momentum shifts from Brussels, all eyes are on AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2025, set for October 7–9 in Nairobi. Themed Africa’s Innovation Future: Policy, Partnerships, and Progress, it promises to be a catalytic moment.
Here, the lofty goals of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda will meet funding, frameworks, and frictionless collaboration. Ministers, technologists, researchers, investors, and youth leaders will gather to make sure innovation doesn’t stay in white papers but gets built into real systems, from AI governance and digital commerce to renewable energy and inclusive education.
This is not just a gathering; it's the beginning of a continental reset.
A New Era of Co-Creation
AfriLabs is not just reacting to policy. It’s shaping it. And in doing so, it's inviting partners from across the globe to join the journey, with one clear message:
If you’re an innovator, AfriLabs is your launchpad.
If you're a policymaker, AfriLabs is your listening post.
If you're a global partner, AfriLabs is your window into Africa’s grassroots genius.
This isn't a moment. It's a movement.
Stay updated with the upcoming AfriLabs gathering in Nairobi HERE
