On 15-16 April 2025, the University of Bologna hosted the workshop “Africa-Europe: Challenges and Opportunities in Research and Cooperation”, bringing together leading voices from science, politics, and academia to strengthen international research cooperation between the two continents.

During the first day of the workshop, ALBATROSS was presented by the project coordinator, Laura Sandra Leo. The presentation focused on strengthening the synergies and partnership between ALBATROSS and the Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE) led by ARUA (African Research Universities Alliance) and The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities (The Guild); especially the CoRE on Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (CoRE-NbS).

While there are currently 17 CoREs on different topics, this workshop was focused on the two coordinated by UNIBO: CoRE on Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (CoRE-NbS), and CoRE on Sustainable Food Systems (CoRE-SFS).

CoRE-NbS is co-led on The Guild side by Silvana Di Sabatino, Laura Sandra Leo, and Paolo Ruggieri, and by Professor Guy Midgley of Stellenbosch University for ARUA. The CoRE brings together a powerful network of African institutions, including the University of Cape Town, the University of Ghana, and the University of Nairobi—all of which are also ALBATROSS partners.