Events

LEAP-RE Stakeholder Forum 2025 - Brussels, Belgium

LEAP-RE Stakeholder Forum 2025 - Brussels, Belgium

Discover this year’s LEAP-RE Annual Stakeholder Forum, which will be taking place in Brussels, Belgium!

After years of collaboration, research, and innovation, the LEAP-RE Annual Event is just around the corner, a perfect opportunity to come together, share insights, and celebrate our collective achievements.

  • Register for online participation. (NOTE: All in-person spots have been filled in; only online registration is possible)
  • Date: October 21–23, 2025
All Locations

October 21, 2025: LEAP-RE Annual Event

Conference13:30 – 18:00 CET Open / Hybrid (Limited capacity - In person: SOLD OUT. Online participation only)
LocationCDMA European Commission, 21 rue du Champ de Mars
=> Please arrive early and don’t forget your ID card/passport !
Introduction14:15 – 14:30 Mrs Joanna Drake, Deputy Director General, DG RTD
Panel discussionParticipants: Policy makers, AU-EU representatives, scientists, experts
14:30 – 14:45Introduction - PAUWES, LGI
14:45 – 15:30Efficiency and attractiveness of joint programming and joint calls - DG RTD, AUC-ESTI, DSTI, ANR, MESRSM (online)
15:30 – 15:45Official announcement of the next LEAP-SE call for projects - ANR
15:45 – 16:30Production of knowledge, research & innovation capacities to address key RE challenges for AU-EU - Strathmore University, JRC, IRENA, IIASA, RE4AFAGRI project, POLIMI, SETADISMA project
16:30 – 17:00Coffee Break
17:00 – 17:45Accelerate market introduction, upscaling & replication of innovations - EU Delegation to AUC & AU–EU Innovation Agenda, LGI Sustainable Innovation, DG INTPA, SEforAll (online), Université de Lorraine, MG-FARM project
 17:45 – 18:00Closing session, UEFISCDI
18:00 – 20:00 Networking cocktail (CDMA Atrium)

October 22, 2025: LEAP-RE Pillar 1 Review Meeting (Restricted)

Conference9.00 – 17.30 CET
LocationSouth African Embassy in Brussels Restricted / Hybrid
Ambassade van de Republiek Zuid-Afrika Rue Montoyer 19, 1000 Bruxelles
IntroductionH.E Ambassador Tokozile Xasa
9:00 – 9:05LEAP-RE Pillar 1 achievements ice breaking (ANR)
9:05 – 9:10Opening: Maria Laura Trifiletti (LEAP-RE Project Officer)
9:10 – 9:20MEL Survey results (SU / UEFISCDI)
Projects final results presentations
9:20 – 10:00RESTART
10:00 – 10:40MIDINA
10:40 – 10:50Coffee Break
10:50 – 11:30OASES
11:30 – 12:10SoCoNexGen
12:10 – 12:50MG-FARM
12:50 – 13:50Lunch Break
13:50 – 14:30REPTES
14:30 – 15:10NanoSolarCell
15:10– 15:50SIREVIVAL
15:50 – 16:00Coffee Break
16:00 – 16:40QDSOC
16:40 – 17:20LEDSOL
17:20 – 18:00HyAfrica
18:00 – 18:05Closing remarks (MESRS)
18:05 – 18:15Wrap-up (DG RTD)

October 22, 2025: Scientific & Methodological Clusters

Conference 14.00 – 17.15 CET 
Location La Maison Irène et Frédéric Joliot-Curie, 100 rue du Trône Open / Hybrid 
Panel discussion Open 
FormatEngaging discussions on various topics followed by a Q&A session 
Topics  Clustering sessions: 
1: Grid Modelling Cluster: 
- Energy Planning challenges in Africa, at different scales (Rural, Industrial, National) 
- Energy Modelling Approaches of the different speakers 
- Data availability and Data collection techniques 

2. Water Energy Food Nexus Cluster 
- What is the nexus approach and how is it better as a project’s approach 
- Key challenges and opportunities that affect a resilient WEF system.  
- Emerging WEF innovations and challenges to the development and implementation of WEF innovations in African countries 
- Adoption and scaling up of WEF innovations in African countries 
- Partnerships between African governments, the private sector, and civil society to promote WEF innovation and resilience 
14:00 - 14:05 Introduction to the Grid Modelling Cluster: Setting the scene 
14:05 - 14:10 Opening by Alessandro Mattia (Project manager CINEA) 
14:10 - 14:25 LEAP-RE OASES: Development and Demonstration of a Sustainable Open-Access AU–EU Ecosystem for Energy System Modelling – Data Collection, Open Repositories, and Result Uptake  Malte Lindenmeyer, Fraunhofer IEE  Anni Niemi, VTT 
14:25 - 14:40 EMERGE: ENERGY SYSTEM MODELLING FOR GREEN DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA Francesco Roncallo, EnGreen 
14:40 - 15:10 OpenMod4Africa: Grid analyses best practices from Eastern Africa Power Pool. 
Atsede Endegnanew, Eastern Africa Power Pool 
RE-INTEGRATE: Tunisian Energy System Modelling using OSeMOSYS: Challenges & Opportunities,  Prof. Essia Znouda from Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Tunis 
SEforALL: Energy Planning Solutions – A Country-Led Approach, Tamojit Chatterjee  
15:10 - 15:25 Discussion/Q&A/Slido 
15:25 – 15:35 Break 
15:35 – 15:40 Introduction to the WEF Cluster: Setting the scene 
15:40 – 15:50 Overview of WEF nexus and significance – Learnings from Mediterranean region - Mohamed Wageih, PRIMA 
15:50 – 16:00 Case studies in the Water – Energy – Food Nexus – Ms. Jane Wambui, UNESCO 
16:00 - 16:30 Panel Discussion 1:
Project Case Studies Best Practices in Nexus integration - Case Studies – Stephen Gichuki  Policy Support for Integrated Approaches – Simon Thuo, SU Future Trends in WEF Nexus Research - Fabio Montagnino, Cypress Institut, ONEPlanet -Magda Moner, Irene Angeluccetti, JRC Africa Knowledge Platform 
16:30 - 17:00 Panel Discussion 2: Innovative solutions towards resource maximization with sustainable and resource efficient WEF implementation 
LEAP-RE Projects:  
- OPTiMG - Julian Fleischmann 
- RE4AFAGRI - Giacomo Falchetta  

ENERGICA Projects: 
- NANOE – Nicolas Saincy (Madagascar)  
- Freetown Waste Transformers (FWT) - Aminata Dumbuya (Sierra Leone) 
- ONEPlanet - Brenda Insonne 
17:00 - 17:10 Discussion/Q&A/Slido 
17:10 - 17:15 Conclusions 

October 23, 2025: Innovation Fair – “Enabling that step forward”

Conference9.30 – 17.00 CET Open
LocationBrussels, Maison de la Poste (TBC)
Panel discussionParticipants: The Innovation Fair will represent a key Stakeholder Event occurring in the context of the implementation of two major multilateral, regional policy initiatives: the 10-year joint- AU-EU Innovation Agenda (2023-2033), the New Pact for the Mediterranean and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) R&I Roadmaps. 450 participants
 Pitching sessions
 LEAP-RE Booth

Recommended Hotels

To ensure a comfortable stay in Brussels during the event, we recommend the following hotels:

Hotel du Congrès
Address: Rue du Congres 42, Brussels 1000 Belgium.

Hotel Thon City Center
Address: Av. du Boulevard 17, 1210 Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Belgium.