The progress made in EDCTP2 has provided an excellent foundation for its successor, the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking, to maintain and strengthen collaboration and cooperation between Europe and Africa in global health research.
Dr Henning Gädeke
Chair, EDCTP Association Board
It only remains for me to thank my predecessor, Professor Yazdan Yazdanpanah, for the excellent job he performed as previous Chair of the EDCTP General Assembly. It is a great honour to be taking up this position during this unique period and in advance of the Eleventh EDCTP Forum and 20th anniversary event, which will take place in Paris, France, in November 2023. The Forum theme is ‘Partnering for Global Health Research Innovation and Impact in Africa – Celebrating EDCTP: two decades and beyond’, and will focus on both EDCTP2 and EDCTP3. As this Annual Report confirms, there is much to celebrate, and much to look forward to.
The complete EDCTP2 portfolio consists of centrally managed grants and participating states-initiated activities (PSIAs) – grants awarded by individual member countries that are aligned with EDCTP2 strategic objects and often have a direct connection with EDCTP2 centrally managed grants. This strong alignment enables still greater impact by focusing on shared goals and building on past investments. The EDCTP2 response to COVID-19 was one in which Member States played a critical role. Recent years have seen a growing emphasis on the search for such synergies through PSIAs. This strategic programme approach remains a priority for the future and will be continued as in-kind contributions to additional activities.
The activities of EDCTP2 since 2014, with a portfolio of more than 400 grants, has created new partnerships, greater awareness, and a set of priorities that can be taken forward in the successor to EDCTP2, the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking. EDCTP3 was formally launched in May 2022, alongside its first calls for proposals. As many EDCTP2 grants remain active, the two programmes will initially run side by side. The Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking is administratively a separate legal entity but the two organisations remain in close contact, ensuring a joined-up approach and a smooth transition to funding through new EDCTP3 mechanisms.
The independent evaluation of EDCTP2 carried out in 2022 emphasised that the programme has evolved into a globally significant player in global health research. As well as the importance of the research funded through EDCTP2, much of which will have major implications for the future health of sub-Saharan Africa, the way that EDCTP2 operates is also worthy of comment. EDCTP2 strives to be an example of an equitable North–South partnership, in which partners from the South and the North make strategic decisions and set priorities together.
This Annual Report outlines some of the recent achievements of EDCTP2 and the projects that it supports. As many projects are still ongoing, this list will undoubtedly still grow further in the future. European and African Member States are to be congratulated on the support they have been providing to EDCTP2, which is enabling truly remarkable things to happen.
The progress made in EDCTP2 has provided an excellent foundation for its successor, the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking, to maintain and strengthen collaboration and cooperation between Europe and Africa in global health research.
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Interview Marcel Tanner
The independent evaluation of EDCTP2 carried out in 2022 emphasised that the programme has evolved into a globally significant player in global health research. As well as the importance of the research funded through EDCTP2, much of which will have major implications for the future health of sub-Saharan Africa, the way that EDCTP2 operates is also worthy of comment. EDCTP2 strives to be an example of an equitable North–South partnership, in which partners from the South and the North make strategic decisions and set priorities together.
This Annual Report outlines some of the recent achievements of EDCTP2 and the projects that it supports. As many projects are still ongoing, this list will undoubtedly still grow further in the future. European and African Member States are to be congratulated on the support they have been providing to EDCTP2, which is enabling truly remarkable things to happen.
The progress made in EDCTP2 has provided an excellent foundation for its successor, the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking, to maintain and strengthen collaboration and cooperation between Europe and Africa in global health research.
Discussions around vaccines have been given a great push during the Covid-19 pandemic, and analyses reveal that the investment in R&D facilities is very high. There has been a lot of attention on patents, but we have to realise that if you open/break a patent, it will only be of use if you have the capacity to produce such a vaccine. It takes years to develop that capacity. New approaches such as the BioNTech’s container labs that can be put together quickly for an R&D process in African countries, make a lot of sense but are not the only answer. In the long term, as stated before, it is essential to develop the PDP-framework at national and regional levels. In addition, I think EDCTP can play a role in that next step, and focus not only on clinical trials, but already do a lot of preparatory work in vaccine acceptance through the regional Networks of Excellence and our sound connections to the scientific community.
In your view, how has the Covid-19 pandemic informed the way organisations such as EDCTP collaborate with industry partners - what can be done differently?
It only remains for me to thank my predecessor, Professor Yazdan Yazdanpanah, for the excellent job he performed as previous Chair of the EDCTP General Assembly. It is a great honour to be taking up this position during this unique period and in advance of the Eleventh EDCTP Forum and 20th anniversary event, which will take place in Paris, France, in November 2023. The Forum theme is ‘Partnering for Global Health Research Innovation and Impact in Africa – Celebrating EDCTP: two decades and beyond’, and will focus on both EDCTP2 and EDCTP3. As this Annual Report confirms, there is much to celebrate, and much to look forward to.
How do you think we can build on the industry-supported activities that have been conducted to date and what new opportunities do you anticipate will emerge that can be jointly initiated under Global Health EDCTP3?
The complete EDCTP2 portfolio consists of centrally managed grants and participating states-initiated activities (PSIAs) – grants awarded by individual member countries that are aligned with EDCTP2 strategic objects and often have a direct connection with EDCTP2 centrally managed grants. This strong alignment enables still greater impact by focusing on shared goals and building on past investments. The EDCTP2 response to COVID-19 was one in which Member States played a critical role. Recent years have seen a growing emphasis on the search for such synergies through PSIAs. This strategic programme approach remains a priority for the future and will be continued as in-kind contributions to additional activities.
The activities of EDCTP2 since 2014, with a portfolio of more than 400 grants, has created new partnerships, greater awareness, and a set of priorities that can be taken forward in the successor to EDCTP2, the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking. EDCTP3 was formally launched in May 2022, alongside its first calls for proposals. As many EDCTP2 grants remain active, the two programmes will initially run side by side. The Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking is administratively a separate legal entity but the two organisations remain in close contact, ensuring a joined-up approach and a smooth transition to funding through new EDCTP3 mechanisms.
How would you describe EDCTP’s strategy on industry involvement in global health product development? In what way has EDCTP worked to facilitate collaboration with industry?