Veronika Wittmann (Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria) opened the session by exploring science diplomacy from a safety perspective. She underscored the growing complexity of global challenges - ranging from pandemics and climate change to loss of biodiversity and transnational terrorism - and the necessity for international cooperation. Professor Wittmann highlighted three key features of these challenges: their transnational nature, the inability of any single state to address them alone, and the need for genuine scientific imagination. She described science as a global public good, a form of soft power, and a problem-solving expertise, advocating for science diplomacy as a means to peacefully manage shared futures amid polycrisis and anti-science populism. Her presentation called for unity among scientists to protect global values and promote cross-border cooperation, placing human security at the centre of scientific efforts.

Mounya Belhocine (Université de Bejaia, Algeria) presented the SALDAE project, which aims to facilitate academic cooperation and internationalisation among Algerian universities. She outlined the project’s objectives: building structures for internationalisation, sharing good practices, modernising cooperation management, and strengthening international relations offices. Belhocine emphasised the importance of partnerships between equals, institutional team effort, and the impact of student mobility. The project has enabled the creation of national and international networks, supported the training of staff, and fostered sustainable practices that continue beyond the project’s lifespan. She concluded by highlighting the transformative effect of scholarships, which not only provide academic opportunities but also cultivate future leaders and long-term partnerships.

Benedict Mutua (Technical University of Kenya) discussed the journey from scholarship to leadership, stressing the importance of sustainability in academic mobility. He argued that the true value of scholarships lies not just in individual achievement, but in the multiplier effect - where scholars become leaders who drive institutional capacity, research innovation, and sustainable partnerships. Mutua called for the integration of successful cooperation into institutional systems, scaling up solutions to inform communities, and fostering trust and ownership. He concluded with a call to action: connect, collaborate, innovate, and impact - transforming partnerships into mutual growth and global cooperation.

Julia Lichtkoppler (OeAD, Austria) provided an overview of OeAD programmes and available funding opportunities, and focused on the impact of collaborative projects. She highlighted Africa-UniNet and its reach across 18 African countries, with over 110 projects completed or underway, supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research. Lichtkoppler emphasised the diversity of disciplines covered, the importance of institutionalising collaboration, and the need to make project results visible and transferable. She encouraged participants to explore new ideas, evaluate project impact, and sustain long-term partnerships that lead to societal transformation and a new vision of hope.

Karim Djouani (CNLL Member, Algeria) began the session by outlining the vision and achievements of the National Commission for Free and Open-Source Software. He emphasised the transformative potential of open-source solutions in higher education, research, and public services. Djouani described Algeria’s journey from the early adoption of open-source software in 2001 to the establishment of a robust system supporting digital innovation. He highlighted ongoing collaborations with South Africa and Tunisia, the creation of a virtual African centre of excellence in high-tech and modelling, and the importance of adapting open-source tools to local languages and contexts. The presentation underscored the need for technical capacity, cross-border cooperation, and a long-term vision for digital transformation across Africa.

Andreas Rauber (TU Wien, Austria) followed with an insightful exploration of AI-ready data management. He traced the evolution of research data handling - from fragmented, researcher-led practices to institutionally supported, policy-driven frameworks. Rauber explained the critical role of centralised repositories, open-source tools, and machine-actionable data management plans in ensuring data quality, security, and reusability. He stressed that trustworthy data is essential for reproducible science, and that institutional support, legal frameworks, and technical infrastructure are key to sustaining excellence in research. Rauber’s presentation highlighted the increasing complexity of research workflows and the necessity of building trust through robust data governance.

Kwabena Sarfo Sarfo-Kantankah (University of Cape Coast, Ghana) offered a compelling perspective on collaborative innovation. He argued that the future of higher education is networked, advocating for open access, open collaboration, and open innovation. Sarfo-Kantankah described the University of Cape Coast’s success in international rankings, attributing it to research excellence, institutional support, and global connectivity. He called for partnerships based on reciprocity and co-creation, moving away from extractive relationships towards joint agenda-setting and shared ownership. His vision emphasised the importance of digital infrastructure, mobility, and empowering young researchers as active co-creators of knowledge. The presentation concluded with a call to build enduring partnerships and transform African universities from the periphery to the centre of global research.

Yassine Benzai (University of Saida) presented Algeria’s ambitious shift towards entrepreneurial universities. He detailed the implementation of ministerial decree 1275, which allows master’s and PhD students to develop innovative graduation projects in place of traditional dissertations. Benzai described the creation of digital platforms, business incubators, entrepreneurship centres, Fab Labs, and tech innovation centres, all designed to support student-led innovation and patenting. He highlighted the introduction of a legal framework for intellectual property, which incentivises inventors by allocating 80% of generated income directly to them and 20% to the university. Benzai noted the rapid increase in patent applications and the emergence of university-controlled subsidiaries and venture capital initiatives, positioning Algerian universities as independent economic actors. Despite these advances, he acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly the need to foster an entrepreneurial culture among students and adapt curricula to support innovation.