The City Diplomacy Lab is proud to serve as a scientific partner of the upcoming Congress “A New Era of Cooperation between Europe and Africa: Innovative Responses to Environmental Challenges”, to be held on 6–7 October 2025 at the Corum in Montpellier.
This event is part of the wider Biennale Europe-Africa, running from 6 to 12 October across the city of Montpellier. The Biennale offers a vibrant programme – cultural, artistic, social, and professional – that builds cultural bridges and invites exchange and co-construction between Europe and Africa.
An Ambitious and Inclusive Agenda
Over the two days of the Congress, the programme includes:
- 5 plenary sessions
- 16 thematic roundtables
- About 400 participants from France, Europe, and Africa
The plenaries will explore how territories, supported by local and national institutions, can reinvent partnerships under win–win frameworks. Key themes include:
- Climate resilience and adaptation strategies
- Strengthening cooperation through diaspora engagement
- Innovative mechanisms for cooperation financing
The roundtables will dive into concrete challenges such as:
- Hydro-climatic risks: preventing and responding to floods and droughts
- Transitions in food systems: local agro-food innovation as a lever for inclusive development and job creation
- Technological innovation, including in space technologies.
All plenary sessions will be offered with simultaneous French-English translation to ensure broad accessibility.
Building a Shared Future within the Biennale Framework
The Congress is more than a standalone event: it sits at the heart of the Biennale Europe-Africa, which turns Montpellier into a territory of encounter and co-creation. During the Biennale (6-12 October), residents and visitors will experience exhibitions, artistic residencies, public lectures, sports and cultural events, and professional meetings that all contribute to rethinking the ties between the two continents.
Together, the Congress & Biennale offer a powerful platform for shared reflection, innovation, and the forging of common solutions toward a sustainable and solidarity-based future.