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The first French-South African Science and Innovation days aimed to promote cooperation in research, training, and innovation between the two countries, and to stimulate it in the light of the challenges South Africa faces.

The scientific cooperation between France and South Africa is very dynamic with 4,710 publications co-signed over the five last years and a yearly increase of 17% since 2008. This copublication activity places France as the 5^th international partner of South Africa, whereas South Africa is the 3^rd scientific partner of France in Africa and the 1^st in Sub-Saharan Africa. Scientific fields of cooperation are very diverse including Physics, Astronomy-Astrophysics, Environmental Sciences, Geology, Oceanography, Palaeosciences, History, Health, Governance…

In the field of innovation, South Africa is by far the largest patents applicant on the continent. Four universities are among the main applicants, which highlights the will of RSA to use science for the economic development of the country. The capacity of technological transfer, from universities to market, is one of the priorities that France and South Africa share.

Beyond the promotion of research activities in partnership with France and South Africa, the objective of these Science and Innovation Days was to stimulate this cooperation through the organization of the event in four sessions concerning major issues in South Africa:

• Session 1 “Transformation of the Society: bridging the skills gap”
• Session 2 “Research transcending borders in Africa”
• Session 3 “Science for Sustainable Development”
• Session 4 “Inclusivity: from bench to market”

Poster sessions allowed participants to present an important diversity of scientific partnerships, highlighting how they address the issues corresponding to the 4 sessions.