Africa-Europe Science and Innovation Summit

Please find the online session link here
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89989365492?pwd=dDlFY3lYNHdXUlZkTVJtZDBUckhSQT09

Standards - Supporting innovation in Africa - How do standards foster innovation and economic prosperity?
Standards serve as a catalyst for innovation and help in anchoring solutions more quickly on the market. In today’s networked world clearly defined interfaces and compatibility between individual components and systems is now more important than ever. Standards are the global language of technology, reduce technical trade barriers and facilitate the free movement of goods. Standards open doors to promote exports.  
The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) commenced 1st January 2021, signalling the creation of the African single market of 55 nations, defining the rules to operate.  The AfCFTA Agreement is the catalyst for the harmonization of standards and a quality infrastructure (QI) framework for the African continent.  The AfCFTA will seek to implement the Africa Quality Policy – to realise one test- one standard – one certificate and will strengthen the Pan African Quality Infrastructure (PAQI) network.

Join this panel discussion to hear how standards foster innovation and economic prosperity, from the perspectives of:

• the WTO, 
• the African Union Commission, 
• the European Commission, 
• Regional standards bodies CEN-CENELEC and ARSO; and 
• industry using cybersecurity standards across global value chains.

Moderated by the European Centre for Development Policy Management