Black holes (BHs) are icons of the fundamental nature of gravity, the mysterious force shaping the Universe. They are also the Universe’s most efficient power houses, turning infalling gas into energy and outflows that, together with gravity, mould galaxies and thus ultimately stars and planets. The first image of a black hole by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), wherein we played a leading role, captured the imagination of scientists and the public alike. This picture of the immutable black hole is however blurred by the dynamic, still mysterious behaviour of the surrounding gas. Our limited understanding of these turbulent, magnetised plasma in/outflows, producing the radiation and high-energy particles we observe, obstructs a straightforward interpretation of the black hole image for testing theories of gravity. The challenge in understanding the astrophysics of black holes and their impact on the cosmos is that they span >8 orders of magnitude in mass, size and timescales, and emit light over 15 orders of magnitude in frequency. Our new approach overcomes this scale separation, by simultaneously addressing the dynamics of large and small black holes, in colour. We produce for the first time high-resolution multi-colour movies with the EHT combined with new telescopes probing the variable extremes of the electromagnetic spectrum (e.g., CTA, MeerKAT/SKA1). The data are analysed and interpreted with innovative models finally combining micro- and macrophysics. The PIs bring together complementary expertise over the entire black hole mass scale in radio imaging and multi-wavelength monitoring, astroparticle physics, and theoretical modelling to bear on the problem. This is accompanied by four major investments: construction of a new mm-wave telescope in Africa enabling full dynamical imaging of black holes with the EHT, new model development, supercomputing hardware, and a vibrant team of young scientists to help develop a new, truly universal black hole paradigm.

The main aim of the proposed project is to use genomic epidemiology of tuberculosis, malaria and emerging and re-emerging pathogens in Africa as to better understand disease etiology, dynamics of disease transmission, and evolution of drug-resistant pathogens. The study also aims to increase Africa's capacity in bioinformatics, genomics, genomics data management, biobanking, and promote data sharing. Our goal is to improve the health of Africans with innovations in disease surveillance, equip the next generation of African scientists with cutting edge skills and strengthening south-south research collaborations. We propose the following hypotheses: 1. Increased capacity in genomic epidemiology will enable more effective disease surveillance in Africa. 2. Increased capacity in biobanking and genomics data management and analysis in Africa will enhance regional surveillance of infectious diseases and encourage timely and effective responses to emerging pathogens. 3. Regional whole genome sequence-based surveillance will improve the detection of DR-TB and inform the development of more sensitive and specific rapid diagnostics for the detection and surveillance of DR-TB in Africa and elsewhere. 4. Regional genomic surveillance of malaria parasites will inform a pre-emptive detection of emerging DR parasites and measure the impact of programmatic interventions for a data driven decision making by policy makers. 5. Implementation of harmonized genomic data analysis tools will allow the creation of continent-wide surveillance networks able to identify cross-border spread of DR variants and emerging pathogens. To achieve this, PANGenS will develop genomic epidemiology capacity across Africa by establishing a collaborative framework that brings together all expertise to perform trainings and implementation in all relevant components ranging from wet lab to bioinformatics, and establish proof-of-concept studies for TB and malaria in in selected partner countries

INNOECOFOOD aims to establish innovative production/ business ECOHUBS and improve local aquaculture farms using AI and IoT in six African countries. To support EU-AU markets and trade, INNOECOFOOD will train rural farmers, youth and women to innovatively produce and process nutritious aquaculture catfish and tilapia, blue-green cyanobacteria spirulina, and insect value chains that will be processed into certified marketable human food products and feed. This farm to fork approach, reaching TRL7, will be achieved by using climate smart sustainable local resources, innovative chilling and drying processes using renewable energy, reduced water consumption and circular systems within the ECOHUB by an experienced multi-actor consortium comprising 20 partners in Europe and Africa and rural communities. The specific objectives are to: - Conduct scoping of aquaculture practices (living labs) and establish four sustainable and innovative agribusiness rural ECOHUBS using renewable solar/wind energy for the production, processing and marketing of aquaculture value chains (fish and Spirulina) and insects in diverse African countries (WP2), to address AU and EU green deal and trade. - Optimize the production of eco-farmed fish, spirulina and insects, sustainable feeds and post-harvest processing technologies using sensors, AI and IoT technology in aquaculture ECOHUBS and living labs sites (WPs3-5). - Scope suitable plant products; up cycle fish waste nutrients and make novel products from fish and co-products, spirulina and insects by solar powered drying and extrusion processing, using AI sensors and IoT (WP6). - Validate nutritional and sensory quality, microbiological and chemical safety, consumer acceptance, life cycle analysis impact, and implement certification schemes for fish, spirulina and insect processing and products, for consumption, marketing and trade (WP7). - Create a database and train locally 120 youth and 120 women in the ECOHUBSand 5000 rural workers (WP8).