Afreximbank, in partnership with the African Union Commission and the AfCFTA Secretariat, has launched the African Research and Innovation Hub during the 4th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025).
The initiative is set to transform Africa’s academic and industrial landscape by building collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders.
The hub will provide a dedicated platform for researchers, lecturers, and students from Africa, the Caribbean, and the Diaspora to showcase groundbreaking research, technological innovations, and prototypes.
It will also facilitate networking, industry partnerships, and the commercialization of research outputs, helping to bridge the gap between academia and the business sector.
Entries will be assessed based on their level of innovation and practical applicability, ensuring that research contributes directly to Africa’s trade and industrialization goals. It is envisaged that by connecting researchers with investors and policymakers, the initiative will empower the next generation of trade and investment leaders, improve policy understanding, and enhance intra-African trade.
Additionally, the hub will support capacity building by offering mentorship programs, funding opportunities, and exposure to global markets, positioning African research and innovation at the forefront of the continent’s economic transformation.
The AfCFTA is a landmark trade agreement established to create a single market for goods and services across 54 African countries making it the largest free trade area in the world by the number of participating nations.
The agreement is to boost intra-African trading’ eliminate tariffs and trade barriers, and also to harmonize trade regulations.
