The conference will present the outcomes of the PAERIP (Promoting African European Research Infrastructures Partnerships) project, funded under the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). 

The programme of the conference will include the following sessions: 

• A high-level opening session with the participation of senior representatives from the European Commission and the African Union Commission, with South Africa’s Minister of Science and Technology, Minister Derek Hanekom, as keynote speaker. 
• Presentations of the PAERIP analysis and recommendations on: a/. Interventions to enhance African and European researchers’ transnational access to African and European researcher infrastructures; b/. Opportunities for Africa and Europe to collaborate in developing new large-scale research infrastructures ; and c/. The merit of investment from development and economic cooperation instruments in Africa-EU research infrastructure partnerships, due to their socio-economic benefit. 
• Presentations of case studies of potential flagship Africa-EU research infrastructure cooperation initiatives in areas such as life sciences, environmental research, astronomy and e-Infrastructures. 
• A concluding session on the way forward for Africa-EU research infrastructure partnerships, including a discussion on policy recommendations with regard to the Joint Africa-EU Strategy, and a presentation on ensuring the sustainability of the PAERIP initiative.