Our Pillars

The Foundation for African Research and Innovation (FRIA) bases its strategy on three main pillars.

1 Awareness as a Catalyst for Action

Scientific research plays a central role in sustainable development and improving quality of life. Yet in Africa, it remains poorly understood and undervalued among the general population and decision-makers. It is difficult to support and fund what people do not fully understand.
At FRIA, we believe that long-term research funding in Africa requires a strong public understanding of its value. That’s why awareness-raising and the promotion of scientific culture are core pillars of our work.
We carry out communication, education, and science outreach initiatives to make science accessible to everyone. Our goal is to spark curiosity, build interest, and strengthen public understanding of how research contributes to daily life—targeting students, professionals, policymakers, media, and the general public.

Because only by valuing science among Africans themselves can we turn it into a true engine for social and economic transformation.

2 Support and Capacity Building

In an environment where resources are increasingly scarce, research funding is becoming ever more competitive. At the same time, academic institutions struggle to absorb the growing number of graduates they produce each year. As a result, young African researchers and innovators face a double challenge: limited funding opportunities and few professional prospects.
Yet the technical skills acquired through scientific training—when strengthened with strong cross-cutting competencies—should enable these young people to fully integrate into the workforce and become change agents.
C’est pourquoi la FRIA s’engage à accompagner les jeunes chercheurs et innovateurs africains dans le renforcement de leurs capacités. À travers des programmes dédiés, la Fondation propose des formations sur des thématiques clés telles que : la rédaction de projets, l’élaboration de budgets, la recherche de financements, la gestion de projets, la rédaction scientifique (articles, revues), ou encore l’intégration de l’intelligence artificielle dans la recherche.
Unfortunately, university training often remains too theoretical and provides few opportunities to develop these essential practical skills.

This is why FRIA is committed to supporting young African researchers and innovators in strengthening their capacities. Through dedicated programs, the foundation offers training on key topics such as:

• Project proposal writing
• Budget development
• Fundraising strategies
• Research project management
• Scientific writing (articles, reviews)
• Integrating artificial intelligence in research

The goal is to equip these young talents with the tools they need to enhance their profiles, find sustainable careers across sectors, and contribute—through rigorous scientific approaches—to solving Africa’s development challenges.

3 Sustainable Research Funding

Africa remains the continent most dependent on external funding to support its scientific research. Yet emerging economies like China, India, and Brazil have shown that sustainable, inclusive development requires major, strategic investment in research and innovation. The world’s most advanced nations all made science a national priority—accompanied by policies to attract top talent globally.
As long as African countries do not prioritize investment in research and innovation, they will remain dependent on external agendas misaligned with their local realities. It is clear that control over scientific production must be paired with local ownership of financial resources.
Yes, investing in research requires long-term vision, significant funding, and a tolerance for uncertainty. But the returns—economic, social, and technological—are substantial.
In many developed countries, the private sector funds most research activity. This model ensures better alignment between science and the real needs of the local economy, while developing skills that match tomorrow’s strategic priorities.
At FRIA, we believe that such partnerships—between academic institutions, businesses, civil society, and philanthropic actors from both the diaspora and the continent—can open the door to autonomous, sustainable funding mechanisms.
Our ambition is clear: to help redefine the model for research funding in Africa by mobilizing the private sector, African citizens, and public authorities in a collective effort to build scientific sovereignty.