Strengthening the Danish-African university collaboration
13-04-26
We are delighted to announce the second call under the Knowledge and Innovation Programme (KIP) – a large-scale university collaboration initiative that aims to strengthen partnerships between African universities and universities in the Kingdom of Denmark.
The Knowledge and Innovation Programme (KIP) was initiated in June 2025 to promote collaborative learning and innovation between African universities and universities in the Kingdom of Denmark. It supports joint networks that address shared global challenges through university partnerships and student exchange. KIP is a central element of Denmark’s Africa’s Century strategy, with a total budget of DKK 430 million for 2025–2032.
In 2025, the first year of the programme, five partnership projects were selected for funding. The programme received 22 applications in 2025, demonstrating strong interest from both Danish and African higher education institutions. An additional five seed funding projects were selected for funding from 20 applications.
Building on this momentum, the Call for Applications 2026 invites Danish and African university partners to submit proposals for new or expanded partnership projects. The call will support initiatives that deepen collaborative learning, strengthen institutional ties, and create opportunities for student mobility and mutual innovation. Applicants can seek funding for partnership activities, scholarship programmes for African students to study in Denmark, and seed funding for emerging collaborations.
In this newsletter, as well as highlighting the new Call and the online information meeting 12 May about the call, we have compiled a series of interviews and stories from various projects selected for funding in 2025.
The stories vary widely in focus. One, about the Partnership for Climate Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Education project, is a centrally rooted partnership between university administrations. Another, about The Africa, Business and Society project, builds on a long-term collaboration through development research projects. The third, about the Advancing Sustainable Animal Production and Biodiversity project, concerns partnering with smaller universities in East Africa. The fourth project, Co-designing Kenyan–Danish AI and Robotics for Sustainability and Impact, is a seed-funded initiative. Seed funding grants under the Knowledge and Innovation programme are small, early-stage grants that support new collaborations between universities in the Kingdom of Denmark and partner institutions in African countries to co-develop proposals for partnership projects.
Every article provides practical lessons learned from the projects for the benefit of other universities who plan to develop their own partnership projects.
We hope you will find the stories useful and look forward to receiving your applications.
The Knowledge and Innovation Programme was prepared by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education and Science.
CONTENT OF THE NEWSLETTER:
Knowledge and Innovation Programme: Call 2026 Now Open
Online info meeting on 12 May about the Knowledge and Innovation Programme Call
Partnership for Climate Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Education
The Africa, Business and Society
Advancing Sustainable Animal Production and Biodiversity
Co-designing Kenyan-Danish AI and Robotics for Sustainability and Impact
New Knowledge and Innovation team staff member
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