Lara Pandya (Global Health EDCTP3), co-chair of the Organising Committee, reflected on how the scale and breadth of the Forum had grown steadily, in part because of the increasing scope of EDCTP programmes. Fellow co-chair Jean Marie Vianney Habarugira (Global Health EDCTP3) suggested that an EDCTP community was forming – “one family, one movement,” as he put it.
Dr Marieke van der Werf (European Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and co-Chair of the Forum Programme Committee) highlighted the diversity of people who now attended the Forum, which meant including something of interest to everyone. Prof. Marcel Tanner (EDCTP High Representative) argued that young people were the driving force behind science and should be given a role in programme development at future Forums.
All the organisers agreed that partnerships were central to the EDCTP mission and to health research more generally, and that the Forum had been highly successful at bring people together, creating and cementing relationships, and stimulating new collaborations. “Partnership was the core of this Forum,” concluded Marieke, while Marcel insisted: “We only get better health through partnerships.”
Celebrating a successful Forum
Beginning a series of presentations to close the Forum, Kasia Jurczak (DG Research and Innovation (DG-RTD), European Commission) congratulated the organisers on a “fantastic and memorable” event.
She suggested the Forum had illustrated the “power of partnerships”. It had “strengthened existing bonds and created new ones”. She also highlighted the outstanding science that had been showcased and the people who had carried out the studies reported – and noted the powerful women’s voices that had been heard throughout the meeting.
She looked forward to continuing engagement between the EU and Africa, re-emphasising Europe’s commitment to partnerships with Africa in health and other domains. She highlighted the AU–EU summit, to be held in November 2025, and the policy framework shaping the relationship between the two regions, including the EU Global Health Strategy, the AU–EU Innovation Agenda, and Team Europe’s initiatives, such as its focus on building vaccine manufacturing capacity in Africa.
Kasia concluding by hoping that EDCTP could meet the Minister of Health’s challenge to “go far and fast”. She urged more countries to join the EDCTP Association and hoped that more diversity in funding sources could be achieved, from contributions from additional countries, foundations and the private sector, building on the unique connections and approach established by EDCTP.
She also made a plea to build on the momentum gathered at the Forum: “As we close this Forum, let us carry forward the energy, the ideas and above all the shared commitment to advancing health equity through research.”
Dr Michael Makanga (Executive Director of the Global Health EDCTP3 programme) highlighted how the Forum had achieved many objectives, showcasing world-leading research and innovation, informing many different stakeholders, nurturing global collaborations and providing important input into Global Health EDCTP3 thinking.
Summarising the Forum in numbers, he noted that it had attracted more than 1200 on-site participants, 65% of whom were attending their first Forum and 71% from Africa. Women had made up 42% of attendees, 47% or oral presenters, 49% of plenary speakers, and 50% of prize winners.
He thanked members of the committees involved in organising the meeting and its programme, as well as co-hosts the Ministry of Health of Rwanda and the Rwanda Biomedical Centre.
From Kigali to Madrid
Michael also announced that Madrid, Spain would be the host city of the 2027 EDCTP Forum. Via video message, Honourable Minister Mónica García Gómez (Minister of Health, Spain) expressed her delight that Spain would be the next host country, building on the success of the Kigali event: “Over the past few days, the Forum has shown once again how much we can achieve through strong research partnerships,” she said.
She highlighted Spain’s continuing commitment to global health, summarised in a newly launched national global health strategy. She suggested that its objective was simply to improve health everywhere: “Not only is this the right thing to do, it is also in everyone’s best interests.”
These messages were echoed by Dr Jose Miguel Rubio (Director of the National Centre of Microbiology, Spain), who noted it would be an honour for Spain to host the next Forum. As a founding member of EDCTP, Spain remained fully committed to supporting it in the future. He highlighted many EDCTP projects that Spain had contributed to and the multiple institutions that are key partners in EDCTP projects.
Goodbye from Kigali
The final word went to Dr Jeanne Umuhire on behalf of the Honourable Minister Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, Rwanda’s Minister of Health. She praised the Forum: “Rwanda is proud to have hosted this Forum, an inspiring gathering of policymakers, researchers, funders, clinicians and global health professionals, all united in purpose and energised by a shared commitment to transform health outcomes across Africa and beyond.”
She picked up on the comment made by the Honourable Minister at the start of the Forum, which has resonated throughout the meeting: “At the opening ceremony, the Honourable Minister of Health challenged us with a timely and important question: How do we go far, fast? Over the course of this Forum, I believe we have begun to chart a course for that very journey.”
As the Forum had demonstrated, international scientific collaborations held the key: “Research is the bridge – a bridge to smarter, faster, and more equitable health interventions. It is through science that we will overcome persistent bottlenecks in our systems and build the resilience needed to meet both current and emerging challenges.”
Jeanne highlighted a range of themes that had emerged from the meeting, including the need to build capacity for clinical trials and biomanufacturing in Africa, the potential of AI and the challenges of antimicrobial resistance. She also noted how stimulating the Forum had been: “Across sessions and side meetings, we have heard a diversity of voices that have driven insights and bold ideas, all of which have reinforced the central role of collaboration in science and African-led innovations.”
She was also optimistic about the opportunities to achieve real progress: “With institutions such as the African Medicines Agency and the International Vaccine Institute now hosted on the continent, Rwanda and our partners are better positioned now more than ever to turn potential into progress.”
This progress would be dependent on partnerships: “As we look ahead, the role of EDCTP looks not just relevant but essential. We must continue to support research and innovation that is rooted in equity, inclusivity, and responsiveness to the realities of African populations.”
Finally, she urged participants to carry forward the energy created at the Forum: “What we have accomplished here is more than dialogue. It is the groundwork for change. As we return to our daily lives, our institutions and communities, let us carry forward this momentum. Let us act with urgency, coordination and with shared conviction. Because the path to going far, fast is one that we must go on together.”