Research & knowledge
Connect scholars around development questions and help credible evidence reach the people who can use it.
Explore the approachGlobal Research, Advisory and Innovation NetworkFrom scholarship
From scholarship
to enterprise.
GRAIN connects African scholars and researchers across the world with the development challenges of their continent — bringing research, advisory expertise and innovation closer to practical solutions.
Rooted in Africa. Connected to knowledge across the world.
Research ✦ Advisory ✦ Innovation
Advisory & projects
Bring research into feasibility, strategy and project preparation for institutions and partners.
Explore the approachInnovation & enterprise
Build the skills and connections that can help promising ideas become practical ventures.
Explore the approach
Knowledge in actionWhy GRAIN
A network built around useful knowledge.
Africa's scholars produce ideas with the potential to improve lives and strengthen institutions. GRAIN is being developed to help those ideas travel further — from research questions to evidence, and from evidence to projects that can be tested and grown.
- Research informed by Africa's development priorities.
- Collaboration across scholarship, public institutions and industry.
- A pathway from knowledge to practical application.
A continent built by its own scholars.
GRAIN vision · 2026–2027 strategic direction
Our model
Connect. Develop. Apply.
01 / CONNECT
Bring knowledge together
Build relationships between African scholars, universities, industry and institutions across regions.
02 / DEVELOP
Strengthen ideas
Shape research and concepts through mentoring, evidence and practical project thinking.
03 / APPLY
Move toward impact
Connect strong ideas with the partners and pathways needed for decisions, projects and enterprise.
In the community
Events & conversations
Past event · August 2026
Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Startup Success Summit
The summit in Herne, Germany brought together conversations on ideas, enterprise and impact. Its programme listed GRAIN among the sponsors.
Explore eventNews & updates
What we're thinking about
Strategic direction
From scholarship to enterprise: GRAIN's direction
The network's strategic direction links research excellence with advisory work and pathways for innovation.
Read the story
Event note
GRAIN on the 2026 summit programme
The event poster listed GRAIN as a sponsor and its coordinator among speakers at the Herne gathering.
Explore eventConnect with GRAIN
Have an idea worth exploring?
Start a conversation about research, project development or innovation.