How can we build more equitable and sustainable scientific collaborations between Africa and Spain? What barriers remain, and what opportunities does international cooperation offer?

These questions will be at the heart of “Bridging Continents, Breaking Barriers: Africa-Spain Research Partnerships through a Gender Lens”, organised by the Fundación Mujeres por África and the Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), which will take place on 1 December 2026, from 9:30 to 14:00, at ICMAB-CSIC in a hybrid format.

The event will provide a space for dialogue and exchange among scientific and academic professionals to examine the challenges and opportunities of international scientific cooperation between Africa and Spain, incorporating a gender perspective as a key element in promoting more inclusive and equitable collaborations.

The documentary La Ciencia de las Mujeres de África as the starting point for the event

The event will begin with a screening of La Ciencia de las Mujeres de África, a documentary by the Fundación Mujeres por África highlighting the work and contributions of African women in science.

Following a coffee break, the programme will continue with a roundtable discussion on international scientific cooperation through a gender lens. The session will bring together representatives of academic and scientific institutions from Egypt, Nigeria and Spain:

• Yasmin Abozeid, Capital University, Cairo (Egypt).
• Sadura Akinrinwa, Federal University of Technology, Akure (Nigeria).
• Rocío del Pino, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IIS) Biobizkaia.
• Mariano Campoy, Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (CSIC).

The roundtable will be moderated by Núria Muñoz of ICMAB-CSIC and will offer an opportunity to share perspectives and experiences on the factors shaping international scientific collaborations, as well as on ways to strengthen ties between research communities on both continents.

Towards more inclusive scientific cooperation

International scientific cooperation offers opportunities to share knowledge, develop new lines of research and build partnerships between institutions and scientific communities. Integrating a gender perspective into these processes also makes it possible to reflect on inequalities that may persist in access to opportunities, participation and recognition in science.

Through this event, the Fundación Mujeres por África and ICMAB-CSIC aim to contribute to this reflection by bringing together diverse experiences and encouraging dialogue on how to build scientific partnerships that embrace equality and diversity.

The event is open to the scientific community, students and anyone interested in international cooperation, science and gender equality.

Registration open

The event will be held in a hybrid format, with the option to attend in person or online.

Anyone interested can consult the full programme and practical information on the ICMAB-CSIC event webpage and register through this link.

Date: 1 December 2026
Time: 9:30–14:00
Venue: Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC)
Format: Hybrid

Programme

• 9:30–9:50 | Participant reception and registration

• 9:50–10:00 | Welcome remarks

• 10:00–11:30 | Screening of the documentary La Ciencia de las Mujeres de África

• 11:30–12:00 | Coffee break

• 12:00–13:50 | Roundtable discussion

• 13:50–14:00 | Closing remarks

The Fundación Mujeres por África and ICMAB-CSIC invite the scientific community and the wider public to take part in this event and contribute to the discussion on the future of scientific cooperation between Africa and Spain through a gender lens.

>> Download the press release in ENG, ESP and CAT here.
>> Download the poster of the event here.