Mandate for African collaboration dropped from FP7 funding calls

African scientists may miss out on collaborations with EU researchers in the 2013 Seventh Framework Programme, The Guardian has reported.

A mandate to include African scientists has been dropped from upcoming calls, although applications in areas such as biotechnology and fisheries required an African partner in 2010-2012. François Stepman, European co-manager of the Platform for African-European Partnership on Agricultural Research for Development, reportedly told SciDev.net that without a mandate, EU researchers might hesitate to work with African researchers.