At a time when global challenges demand collaborative solutions, fostering equitable partnerships is crucial. For Sweden and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the Swedish African Research Arena (SARA) presents an exciting opportunity to transform the landscape of research, innovation, and higher education between the two regions.
On March 14, 2025, a seminar was held at the World Trade Centre in Stockholm, marking the official launch of a detailed study into the establishment of SARA. The seminar provided a platform for presenting the findings of the study. Conducted by STINT (The Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education) on behalf of IntSam (the National Coordination Function for International Research and Innovation Cooperation outside the EU). The study highlighted the potential for creating a new collaborative hub for Swedish–African research initiatives, marking a significant turning point in international academic partnerships.
Why SARA, Why Now?
Africa is one of the world’s fastest-growing and youngest continents, with a dynamic and evolving research landscape. In recent years, African universities have significantly improved their global rankings, with increasing participation in cutting-edge fields like space research. This growth is expected to continue, driven by innovations that open up access to science and technology in ways previously reserved for high-income countries. As a result, Africa is becoming an even more attractive destination for research collaborations, talent, and investments.
However, traditional Swedish research collaborations with African nations have often been tied to aid-driven capacity-building efforts. While these have been beneficial, there’s now a compelling need for a new approach that emphasizes equal partnerships and mutual benefits.
This was one of the key takeaways from the study presented at the seminar, led by Erik Forsberg, who emphasized the growing importance of creating research partnerships based on equity rather than historical aid models.
Key Features of SARA
SARA is designed to support Swedish–African collaboration in several key areas:
Joint Research Collaboration
SARA will facilitate joint research funding calls, supporting collaborative projects that reflect mutual interests and shared goals. This will help overcome the limitations of traditional funding models, ensuring that African researchers and institutions are seen as equal partners in the research process. Joint funding is not based on equal contributions, but on equitable contributions that respect regional realities.
Education and Talent Exchange
Through SARA, Sweden will support increased mobility of students and researchers between Sweden and SSA. This includes recruitment of African students into exchange programs, establishing scholarship databases, and fostering bilateral student exchange agreements. Additionally, Swedish higher education institutions (HERIs) will collaborate with their African counterparts to offer remote programs and courses, increasing access to knowledge for African students.
Research and Innovation Partnerships
Innovation is at the heart of SARA’s mission. The cooperation hub will not only focus on traditional research collaborations but also on supporting the commercialisation of research-based innovations. These initiatives will connect Swedish researchers and entrepreneurs with their African counterparts, addressing both the African and global innovation landscape.
SARA’s strategic networking will help to foster innovation partnerships, complementing existing Swedish initiatives like Business Sweden and the Norrsken Foundation.
Regionally Focused, Continentally Inclusive
While the initial focus of SARA will be on Eastern and Southern Africa, including key locations like Nairobi (Kenya) and Gaborone (Botswana). The initiative remains pan-African in scope. This ensures that Western Africa will also benefit from SARA’s resources and efforts. It will be in a phased approach as the organization grows.
Organisational Model & Governance
SARA is proposed as an independent foundation to provide maximum operational flexibility. It will be governed by a board of directors and guided by an advisory board consisting of key stakeholders from both Sweden and SSA. This structure ensures that SARA’s goals remain aligned with regional needs while maintaining a focus on research, innovation, and education.
The executive director, based in SSA, will lead the initiative, working with local teams to ensure that the partnership model evolves in a contextually relevant way.
Leveraging EU Partnerships
As highlighted in the seminar, SARA aligns with broader European Union initiatives such as Horizon Europe and the EU–AU Innovation Agreement. These EU programs have been vital in fostering research collaboration with Africa. However, SARA is not an alternative to these efforts. Instead, SARA complements these programs by providing a Swedish-centric approach that is rooted in equity and long-term partnerships.
Sweden has a unique historical relationship with Africa. It is well-positioned to set a new standard for international research collaboration, serving as a model for future EU-Africa engagement.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for SARA?
The establishment of SARA is not just a proposal — it’s a call to action. The recommendations outlined in the study have strong support among Swedish and African academic communities. The next step is for researchers, funders, and policymakers to come together to secure the funding needed to bring this initiative to life.
As part of future expansion, SARA could:
- Launch a dedicated research fund to support Swedish–African collaborations.
- Create a scholarship fund for student mobility.
- Develop a physical infrastructure in SSA to support collaborative research.
- Establish an innovation incubator to help commercialize research outcomes.
These ambitions are just the beginning. With the right funding and institutional support, SARA can play a key role in shaping the future of international research collaborations between Sweden and Sub-Saharan Africa.
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