Africa and Asia are taking a step closer to innovation-driven collaboration with the launch of the Africa-Asia (A-A) Platform, an initiative designed to exchange technology, knowledge, and entrepreneurship opportunities between the two continents. The platform was unveiled at a ceremony at the United Nations University in Tokyo, attended by Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Prof. Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Pretoria, and Dr. Teruo Fujii, President of the University of Tokyo.
The initiative, supported by Japan’s Policy and Human Resource Development Grant (PHRDG) within the AfDB, aims to strengthen research capacity, foster inter-university networks, and promote collaboration between private and public sectors in Africa and Asia.
Dr. Ould Tah highlighted the platform’s potential to transform youth into innovation leaders. “The Africa-Asia Platform for New Public-Private Partnership Initiatives which we are launching today, represents the next frontier of our collaboration. The success of this pilot project will serve as crucial proof of the viability and impact of linking Africa and Asia through innovative partnerships,” he said.
He also framed the initiative as a solution to broader challenges: “By positioning our youth as drivers of innovation and entrepreneurship, anchored by robust public-private partnerships, we are building an attractive African market, to promote investments, create quality jobs, address the root causes of unsafe migration and insecurity while fostering a secure and prosperous future.”
Prof. Petersen stressed the universities’ role in bridging gaps across continents. “Partnerships between Asian and African countries present an ideal model in which public and private actors on both continents collaborate, co-create and drive innovation. Universities are best positioned to play this role through their capacity for inter- and transdisciplinary knowledge production, local and global networks, and their role as convenors,” he said.
Dr. Fujii highlighted the platform’s practical benefits for students, researchers, and policymakers. “The Africa–Asia Platform will serve as a foundation for knowledge exchange, linking researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs. It will promote new business partnerships, joint research on public policy, and opportunities for students and young professionals to learn from one another across continents.”
The platform complements existing AfDB projects, including Pan African University Phase 2 and ENNOVA, an AI-powered innovation platform offering market studies, capacity-building, financial tools, and incubation support for entrepreneurs.
Leaders from AfDB, the University of Pretoria, and the University of Tokyo committed to working closely with each other and other stakeholders to ensure the platform drives skills development, youth entrepreneurship, and innovation for Africa’s sustainable growth.
By connecting young innovators, researchers, and institutions across continents, the Africa-Asia Platform is set to enhance Africa’s workforce, stimulate investment, and promote long-term economic development.
