Japan and AfDB Launch Africa-Asia Platform to Boost Youth Innovation
The African Development Bank (AfDB), in partnership with Japanese institutions, has officially launched the Africa-Asia (A-A) Platform, a new initiative designed to foster knowledge transfer, entrepreneurship, and innovation between the two continents.
The roll-out ceremony took place at the United Nations University in Tokyo and was attended by Dr Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank Group, Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria, and Dr Teruo Fujii, President of the University of Tokyo.
The platform is supported by the Policy and Human Resource Development Grant (PHRDG), Japan’s trust fund within the AfDB.
The Africa-Asia Platform seeks to strengthen public-private partnerships, promote inter-university research collaboration, and facilitate technology and innovation exchange. Its key components include the establishment of an Africa-Asia knowledge partnership, the development of knowledge-sharing initiatives in both private and public sectors, and the enhancement of individual and institutional research capacity.
The initiative builds on the outcomes of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), held in Yokohama in August 2025, under the theme “Co-create innovative solutions with Africa”.
Dr Ould Tah described the platform as a “next frontier of collaboration” between Africa and Asia, emphasising that youth will be positioned as key drivers of innovation and entrepreneurship. He added that the initiative will contribute to creating quality jobs, attracting investment, and addressing the root causes of unsafe migration and insecurity.
Prof Petersen highlighted the role of universities as bridges for collaboration, noting that they are uniquely placed to connect African and Asian actors through their research capacity, global networks, and convening power.
Dr Fujii added that the platform will link researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs, creating opportunities for joint research, business partnerships, and student exchange programmes.
The Africa-Asia Platform complements existing AfDB innovation projects, including Pan African University Phase 2 and ENNOVA, an AI-powered platform supporting entrepreneurship through market research, capacity-building, prototyping tools, and financial opportunities.
The three partner organisations—AfDB, the University of Pretoria, and the University of Tokyo—have committed to ongoing cooperation with stakeholders across both continents to advance youth skills development, entrepreneurship, and innovation, supporting Africa’s sustainable development agenda.
