African science received a boost with the announcement of a ??3.3 million partnership between the Leverhulme Trust and the Royal Society to fund collaborations between scientists in Ghana, Tanzania and the UK.
The funding will be allocated though new 'Leverhulme Royal Society Africa Awards' - which will provide up to ??150,000 over three years for 18 research projects.
Professor Lorna Casselton, Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society, said: "The Royal Society has been a strong advocate for science in Africa for many years. This generous funding from the Leverhulme Trust will allow larger collaborative research grants for African and British research teams to work together on pressing challenges."
To ensure the scheme is tailored to the needs of Africa, researchers in Tanzania and Ghana met with the Royal Society to identify what they would like a partnership scheme to offer, and the areas of science of particular significance.
Prof. Ohene Adjei, Deputy Director of the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine in Ghana, said: "I am convinced that with this collaboration we will perform research which will contribute immensely to our scientific advancement and enable us to survive, adapt and thrive in this fast changing world."
Professor Adjei continued: "I find this scheme to be very important as it focuses on training as well as scientific research into areas needed for our national development."
Professor Casselton said: "The scheme's five research priority areas - agriculture, water, sanitation, basic human health research, and biodiversity and energy - have been selected by African colleagues as challenges where science can have the most impact on the lives of Africans."
Professor Sir Richard Brook, Director of the Leverhulme Trust said: "Research capability will be of the greatest significance for the well being of African society and the Leverhulme Trust is delighted to share in an enterprise which can support research of the highest international standard in African institutions."
Looking ahead, once the awards scheme has been established in Ghana and Tanzania, the Society hopes to extend the opportunity to include other African countries.
The awards will be officially launched at the Royal Society in October 2008.
The Royal Society is an independent academy promoting the natural and applied sciences. Founded in 1660, the Society has three roles, as the UK academy of science, as a learned Society, and as a funding agency. It responds to individual demand with selection by merit, not by field. As we prepare for our 350th anniversary in 2010, we are working to achieve five strategic priorities, to:
- Invest in future scientific leaders and in innovation
- Influence policymaking with the best scientific advice
- Invigorate science and mathematics education
- Increase access to the best science internationally
- Inspire an interest in the joy, wonder and excitement of scientific discovery
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The Leverhulme Trust is one of the largest all-subject providers of research funding in the UK, distributing funds of some ??40 million every year. For further information about all of the schemes that the Leverhulme Trust fund please visit their website at leverhulme.ac.uk.
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