African-European Research & Development collaborations are at the heart of the EO AFRICA initiative. Co-design, knowledge exchange and technical capacity development together with African and European researchers and experts will be central to respond effectively to African research challenges. New technologies and algorithms will be developed and deployed to facilitate the uptake of innovative EO applications by African researchers, for African users driven by their requirements. The EO AFRICA R&D Facility is fostering this objective by identifying EO research challenges specific to the African environment, with a first focus on Water and Food Security. The Facility will promote African – European exchange in research and know-how by issuing and sustaining dedicated Research Calls for R&D tandems of African-European scientists.