The EU and Nigeria open negotiations on a bilateral agreement on cooperation in science and technology

The European Commission, on behalf of the EU, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria have started negotiations for a bilateral Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement. The aim is to boost cooperation in research and innovation, in line with the conclusions of the 2023 EU-Nigeria Strategic Dialogue and the 2024 EU-Nigeria Summit.

A bilateral agreement on scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Nigeria would provide a political framework for assessing past cooperation, discussing lessons learned and jointly determining future actions, in line with the priority areas for bilateral cooperation and the ten-year multilateral Innovation Agenda of the African Union (AU) and the EU (2023-2033).

Negotiations will take place within the frameworkof thesecond EU-Nigeria Science and Innovation Day,to be held on 24 February 2026 in Lagos, bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and policy makers to celebrate the dynamism of EU-Nigeria cooperation.

Cooperation on R&D with Nigeria

Cooperation between the EU and Nigeria in science, technology and innovation has been growing steadily in recent years, in line with the EU-Nigeria Joint Roadmap resulting from the 7thEU-Nigeria Ministerial^Meetingin 2020. Achievements include Nigeria’s growing participation in the Horizon Europe framework programme and in the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership 3 (EDCTP3).

In Horizon Europe, 55 projects with Nigerian entities have received grants to date, mainly in the health, food, agriculture and environment sectors. In total, 65 Nigerian organisations are participating, with a budget of approximately €20 million. Nigeria is also participating in 12 EDCTP3 projects, with a budget of approximately €75 million.

A total of 15 organisations based in Nigeria are participating in these projects and receiving approximately €9 million.

Fund

The EU has bilateral science and technology agreements with 20 countries around the world. These agreements are based on common interests and priorities and seek to increase cooperation in research and innovation.

The EU currently has bilateral science and technology cooperation agreements with five African countries: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia.

More information: European Commission.