INASP and Research Alpha: Connecting African research expertise with real-world impact

INASP has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Research Alpha, marking the beginning of a collaboration that brings together two organisations with a shared belief: that African research expertise should be at the heart of decisions shaping African markets and beyond.

About Research Alpha

Research Alpha is a curated network of researchers from academic institutions around the world. Its platform connects those researchers with businesses, investors, innovators and policymakers who need bespoke, rigorous expertise to inform their decisions – across sectors such as deep tech, life sciences, climate and sustainability, health sciences and energy. An AI-powered matching system connects organisations with the right experts quickly and accurately.

The beginning of a partnership

The partnership between Research Alpha and INASP’s Rising Scholars network of Global South researchers creates a framework for  members to connect – taking on technical advisory work, collaborating with industry partners, and participating in capacity-strengthening opportunities. It means that researchers in the Rising Scholars community will have new routes to apply their expertise to real-world challenges, while investors and businesses working in emerging markets gain access to a pool of African talent and expertise.

Why it matters

As INASP’s Executive Director Jon Harle puts it: “Stronger connections between African academics and businesses are essential to building thriving enterprise ecosystems, yet too often those links are missing.”

That gap has real consequences. When investment decisions, policy choices and development strategies are made without drawing on the best available research, outcomes suffer – for businesses and for communities. At the same time, talented researchers across Africa have long faced limited opportunities to apply their expertise beyond academia or to see their work shape the decisions that matter most in their contexts.

This is what this collaboration sets out to change. By connecting Rising Scholars with Research Alpha’s network, we aim to ensure that African research expertise is not just produced, but used – informing the investments, strategies and innovations that will shape the continent’s future.

We’re looking forward to seeing what our community will achieve through this partnership.

Read more about Research Alpha and the partnership on their website.