Building bridges for research and innovation
- Wits University
New Africa-Europe partnership aims to turn research into practical solutions, strengthen industry collaboration and create opportunities for skills development.
Wits University welcomed researchers, university leaders, government officials and industry representatives from Africa and Europe to the launch of the Building Bridges: The Future of Africa and Europe symposium on 5 October 2026.
Hosted by Wits and Austria's Montanuniversität Leoben, in collaboration with the AfriSMAT and EURECA-PRO university alliances, the three-day symposium was aimed at establishing long-term partnerships in sustainable mining, materials and energy.
Welcoming delegates, Wits Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Ruksana Osman said the initiative represents a different approach to international collaboration, with universities and partners working together as equals.
"What's really interesting about this project is it's not a top down collaboration at all," said Osman. "I think the Building Bridges symposium will be a wonderful kickoff to a long-term relationship not just between our two institutions but our industry partners and many, many other partners."
Professor Rodney Genga, Assistant Dean of Strategic Projects at the Wits Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment outlined the scientific mission, which focuses on three areas: sustainable mining, sustainable materials and energy.
He stressed that scientific advances alone cannot address society's challenges without the involvement of policymakers, university leaders and industry.
"We can do as much as we want in the lab, but if we don't have the right policy makers, if we don't have the right leadership of academic institutions, or if we don't have those that have cross-strategic partnerships across the different divides, then the science just does not work," said Genga.
He emphasised the importance of developing technologies and skills that create economic opportunities across Africa, particularly for its growing population.
Representing Austria's economic mission, Andreas Reichhardt said cooperation must move beyond securing access to Africa's mineral resources.
"The era of one-sided extraction is over. We do not just want supply chains. We want genuine partnerships," he said.
The symposium brought together three connected missions covering science, institutional cooperation and economic development. Participants aim to identify joint research projects, strengthen university networks and develop partnerships that can translate research into industrial applications.
Austrian Ambassador to South Africa, Romana Königsbrun, said the embassy was committed to supporting the partnership beyond the symposium.
"We are like facilitators. We have certain networks. We try to bring people together. We are really committed to help," she said.