A three level research gateway for African renewable energy collaboration

This paper reports on the long term objectives and research result achieved in the on-going REAfrica project. The REAfrica project collects information and increased knowledge of renewable energy solutions and markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose is to support Finnish companies in the renewable energy sector to develop on the African markets. The entry into a new geographical area involves also a new business culture. The paper considers the potential of collaboration and networking with local partners both on business and research levels as a method for business innovations. The research collaboration needs to evolve into ecosystem level collaboration to create enough momentum to activate a “Three level collaboration ecosystem”.