- University lecturers, students, and researchers affiliated with National Research Institutions urged to submit their publications and prototypes to be considered for inclusion at IATF2025
Cairo, Egypt, 25 April 2025 – African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with African Union Commission and AfCFTA Secretariat, is issuing a final call for applicants for its new initiative, the African Research and Innovation Hub @IATF.
Under the umbrella of ARIH, University Lecturers and Students, as well as Scientists and Researchers affiliated with National Research Institutions from Africa, and the Diaspora including the Caribbean, have the unique opportunity to showcase their innovative research and scientific prototypes at the fourth Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) – Africa’s foremost trade and investment event. Applications must be submitted by 25th April 2025 at 23:59 GMT via email to ARIH@intrafricantradefair.com.
Launched in January 2025, the key objective of the Hub is to bridge the academic and industry divide with a view to boosting research and increasing collaboration between research scientists, academia, industry, and policy makers across Africa aimed at accelerating the intra-African trade and industrialisation agenda. The Hub also aims at encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship among scientists, lecturers and students by connecting them to trade exhibitions, start-up pitches, and networking opportunities with business leaders, potentially leading to new start-ups and increased academic-industry collaborations.
Acknowledging that talent and creativity abound across Global Africa, the African Research and Innovation Hub @IATF further aims at supporting them by promoting and commercialising African research and scientific innovations.
Through the Hub, Scientists, Researchers, Academics and University students have unlimited access to information on emerging issues in the field of intra-African trade – with the potential to incorporate these into their research programs and academic curricula. Finally, the platform enhances the capacity and understanding of scientists, lecturers and students in teaching the complexities of trade policies, trade standards, regional economic communities, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and industrialisation, among other nascent concepts.
Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President Intra-African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank, said: “With the deadline fast approaching for the first edition of the African Research and Innovation Hub @IATF, researchers and innovators have one last chance to be part of IATF2025. We are quite impressed by the submissions received since we launched the programme in January and urge those yet to submit their applications to do so and get an opportunity to showcase their work on a global stage, and to connect with peers and industry leaders from all over the world.”
Entries will be evaluated by a panel consisting of distinguished trade experts, scholars, and industry leaders from across Global Africa. The panel will assess submissions based on innovation, relevance to African trade and industrialisation, and the potential for practical application.
Candidates should demonstrate a number of key criteria – including academic excellence and a passion for advancing research on intra-African trade, industrialisation, leadership and initiative in projects related to trade, industrialisation and innovation, and regional economic integration; high-quality research outputs or innovative prototypes aligned with IATF2025’s themes and a commitment to furthering knowledge and collaboration by sharing insights from the event with their academic institutions.
Check out the eligibility criteria, application requirements and other details about IATF2025 here: 2025.iatf.africa/newfront/page/explore#africa-research-and-innovation-hub-iatf
About Intra-African Trade Fair
Organised by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with African Union Commission (AUC) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) is intended to provide a unique platform for facilitating trade and investment information exchange in support of increased intra-African trade and investment, especially in the context of implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). IATF brings together continental and global players to showcase and exhibit their goods and services and to explore business and investment opportunities in the continent. It also provides a platform to share trade, investment and market information with stakeholders and allows participants to discuss and identify solutions to the challenges confronting intra-African trade and investment. In addition to African participants, the Trade Fair is also open to businesses and investors from non-African countries interested in doing business in Africa and supporting the continent’s transformation through industrialisation and export development.
Media contact: media@intrafricantradefair.com