Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to meet with representatives of UK universities to discuss the potential of equitable collaboration between British and African research institutions in enhancing the impact of the UK Science and Innovation Network in Africa.

HMG Ministers and officials regularly meet representatives of UK universities to discuss the potential of equitable collaboration between British and African research institutions. As part of this, our Science and Innovation Network frequently engage with UK and African institutions to enhance equitable science partnerships. For example, HMG Science and Innovation officials were instrumental in supporting the signing of a hydrogen collaboration MoU between the universities of Stellenbosch and Teeside during the State visit to the UK, and HMG continues to fund bilateral research chairs in South Africa (SA), which has enhanced University relationships between UK/SA partners, including the Nelson Mandela University and the University of Southampton in Ocean Sciences. The Science and Innovation Network continues to act as a matchmaker between UK and African institutions exploring opportunities for collaboration in a broad range of disciplines.