On 2nd March, an institutional event was held at the headquarters of the National Research Council (CNR) in Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 7, marking a new milestone in the collaboration between the CNR and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
In the presence of the leadership of both organizations, CNR President Andrea Lenzi and AICS Director Marco Riccardo Rusconi signed a three-year Framework Agreement aimed at integrating scientific excellence with development interventions, with a primary focus on the African continent. The event opened with a dialogue between CNR Department Directors and senior officials of the Agency, focusing on the next operational steps required to translate research into concrete scientific cooperation projects.
The agreement goes beyond a mere declaration of intent, establishing a detailed operational framework to maximize synergies between scientific research and development assistance, in line with the Strategic Objectives and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The partnership aims to contribute to the five pillars of sustainable development: People, Prosperity, Peace, Planet, and Partnerships.
The objective is to strengthen CNR’s international presence alongside Italian Development Cooperation, ensuring that technological innovations are translated into tangible benefits for local communities.
The synergy between AICS and CNR seeks to enhance the role of research as a key driver of socio-economic development. As highlighted during the institutional remarks, the integration of the Agency’s technical expertise with the multidisciplinary excellence of the CNR’s scientific network will enable more effective responses to global challenges such as food security, climate resilience, and entrepreneurial innovation across African territories.
The agreement will remain in force for three years, with the possibility of renewal, marking the beginning of a path of structured dialogue aimed at fostering an Italian development cooperation increasingly grounded in knowledge and scientific evidence.
