The European Union and the Nigeria have formally opened negotiations for a bilateral Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement aimed at strengthening research collaboration, accelerating innovation, and deepening strategic ties.
The talks were launched during an inception meeting at the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology in Abuja, marking a significant step toward building stronger innovation ecosystems and expanding Nigeria’s participation in global research programmes.
The negotiations come ahead of the second EU–Nigeria Science and Innovation Day scheduled for February 24, 2026, in Lagos, and align with broader cooperation goals under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
The proposed agreement is expected to establish a long-term political and legal framework to strengthen institutional partnerships, assess past cooperation, and jointly define future scientific and technological priorities.
It also builds on commitments made during the 2023 EU–Nigeria Strategic Dialogue and the 2024 EU–Nigeria Summit, as well as the AU–EU Innovation Agenda (2023–2033).
EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, described the launch of negotiations as both historic and strategic, noting that researchers from both sides already collaborate actively, particularly under Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme.
“This agreement will provide the legal and political framework to accelerate and scale up our collaboration. It sends a strong signal that the European Union is committed to deepening its partnership with Nigeria in science, technology and innovation,” he said.
Head of Cooperation for Asia, the Pacific, Africa and the Middle East at the European Commission and EU Chief Negotiator, Nienke Buisman, said the agreement is designed to be flexible and forward-looking.
She explained that the framework would support both direct cooperation—such as joint workshops, exchanges, and studies—and indirect cooperation through participation in each other’s programmes, while ensuring predictability and trust in areas involving knowledge creation and intellectual property.
Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, described the negotiations as a defining moment for the country’s research and innovation ecosystem.
“Nigeria is entering into a science and technology framework with the European Union at a time when innovation is central to our national development agenda,” he said, adding that implementation would include the establishment of a joint science and technical cooperation committee with measurable outcomes.
Nigeria’s Chief Negotiator, Tope Toogun, said the country would use the process to align scientific cooperation with national development priorities, focusing on sectors that drive economic growth and competitiveness.
Proposed areas of cooperation include agriculture and food security, public health, environmental sustainability, climate resilience, digital transformation, and space technology. Nigeria also plans to expand its participation in Horizon Europe, strengthen research funding systems, and improve national science and innovation indicators.
EU–Nigeria cooperation in research has grown steadily in recent years. Nigerian institutions are currently involved in 55 Horizon Europe projects, receiving approximately €20 million in funding across sectors including health, agriculture, and environmental science. Additionally, Nigeria participates in 12 projects under the Global Health EDCTP3 programme, attracting around €75 million in investment, with 15 Nigerian organisations involved.
Officials said the agreement is expected to improve Nigeria’s access to European research networks, enhance the competitiveness of universities and innovators, and attract increased investment in science-driven solutions.
For the European Union, the partnership strengthens engagement with Africa’s largest economy and supports joint efforts to address global challenges such as climate change, food security, health resilience, and digital inclusion.
Both sides aim to conclude negotiations by late 2026 or early 2027, with an action plan to enable early implementation of priority initiatives once the agreement is finalised.
The negotiations mark a major step in placing science, technology, and innovation at the centre of EU–Nigeria relations and advancing long-term cooperation built on shared development goals and mutual benefit.