Bridge to Africa

BRIDGE TO AFRICA (Bridge to Africa-BtA) It is an international initiative of the Canary Islands public universities, whose objective is to to create an International Academic Hub between West Africa and the Canary Islands, promoting sustainable development, innovation and talent development in shared key sectors.

Goals

  • Develop a Comprehensive Cooperation Action Plan that brings together institutional, academic, cultural, social and business initiatives.
  • Strengthening the capacity for coordination, sustainability and international projection of Canary Islands-Africa cooperation, through institutional tools that facilitate its implementation —including the possible creation of a Development and Cooperation Agency as an operational instrument at the service of these purposes.
  • Intensify the academic and cultural diplomacy of the Canary Islands with West Africa.
  • Consolidate academic networks between West Africa and the Canary Islands and collaborative networks with companies and administrations.
  • Offer joint degree, master's, doctoral programs and short courses in strategic areas.
  • Promote research projects in key areas: renewable energy, health, maritime management, climate change, agribusiness, ICT, etc.
  • Create a research and technology transfer center focused on African needs.
  • Facilitate the mobility of students, faculty and researchers.
  • Promote multilingual education (Spanish, French, English, Portuguese).
  • Creation of International Centers in Africa.
  • Develop a digital platform for training and academic exchange.
  • Attract public and private funding for the sustainability of the hub.
  • To strengthen the capacities of the participating universities, both in the academic and research fields as well as in their administrative and service management, in order to enhance their role in Canary Islands-Africa cooperation.
  • Consolidate effective BtA governance, using methodological tools—such as a Comprehensive Action Plan—to coordinate initiatives, align partners, and ensure coherence in the implementation of strategic lines.
  • To promote studies and actions on democracy, human rights, citizen participation and cultural diversity, as a basis for promoting horizontal, inclusive cooperation aligned with the principles of the institutions involved.

The project is based on a
interaction model
coordinated between the
academic centers, the
government institutions
and the business sector.

Congress

In order to continue advancing this initiative, the following will be held during the last week of May: Second Bridge to Africa Congress with the collaboration of Casa África, the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of Gran Canaria.

In this second edition, the event will bring together institutional representatives, specialists, researchers, companies and international organizations to discuss and share experiences on cooperation opportunities between both continents.

Over five days, there will be presentations by leading experts, institutional and business discussion panels, specialized technical interventions, and the 4th International Congress of Young Researchers on Africa.
The program's content will focus on strategic areas for collaboration between the Canary Islands and Africa, such as environmental and energy sustainability, health cooperation, higher education, innovation and sustainable economy, as well as African culture, society and geopolitical reality.

The event will also include a complementary cultural program with exhibitions, cultural activities and concerts designed to bring the creative and artistic diversity of the African continent closer to the public.

In this way, Bridge to Africa reaffirms itself as a forum for exchange, reflection and international cooperation that promotes relations between Africa and Europe from the Canary Islands.

More information and program