Welcome to SASUF+ Beyond Borders Matchmaking Platform

The registration period for the SASUF+ Beyond Borders Matchmaking Platform has now closed. We are delighted by the strong interest in the initiative, which has attracted more than 950 registered participants from South Africa, Sweden, and partner institutions across 19 African countries. Read more about SASUF+ here: SASUF+ website https://www.sasuf.org/

This vibrant and highly diverse network represents a unique opportunity to identify new collaborators, exchange ideas, and develop innovative research partnerships across regions and disciplines. With so many researchers now connected through the platform, we strongly encourage all participants to continue actively engaging in matchmaking activities, exploring profiles, reaching out to potential partners, and refining project ideas ahead of the Virtual Matchmaking Event and the Seed Funding Call.

Continuing Your Matchmaking Journey

Virtual Matchmaking Event (30 September - 1 October 2026)

As part of the Beyond Borders initiative, registered participants are invited to join the Virtual Matchmaking Event, please find the “Match Making Event” tab at the top of the page. From there, you will see the programme and the available theme-based interest rooms.

Deadline for schedule selection: Sunday, 20 September.

The event is designed to help participants move from initial networking and introductions towards concrete collaborations and project development.

Both event days will follow a similar structure, beginning with a joint opening session and concluding with information about the current Seed Funding Call and an opportunity for questions and answers. Between these sessions, participants will take part in parallel theme-based networking sessions focused on SASUF's four overarching research themes:

• Sustainable Health
• Green Transition
• Migration and Urbanisation
• Democracy, Social Justice and Indigenous Knowledge Systems

All times are given in CEST/SAST/CAT (UTC+2), corresponding to local time in Sweden, South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Participants joining from Angola and Nigeria (WAT) should subtract one hour. Participants joining from Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo (GMT) should subtract two hours. Participants joining from Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda (EAT) should add one hour.

Wednesday, 30 September

11:00 Joint Opening
11:30-12:30 Theme-based Parallel Networking Sessions

• Sustainable Health
• Green Transition

12:45-13:30 Seed Funding Call Information and Q&A
From 13:30 onwards Individual Group Meetings (self-organised)

Thursday, 1 October

11:00 Joint Opening
11:30-12:30 Theme-based Parallel Networking Sessions

• Migration and Urbanisation
• Democracy, Social Justice and Indigenous Knowledge Systems

12:45-13:30 Seed Funding Call Information and Q&A
From 13:30 onwards Individual Group Meetings (self-organised)

Upcoming Funding Opportunity

SASUF-NRF Seed Grants for Intra-African Collaboration

Open: 5 August - 3 November 2026

The Seed Funding Call provides a clear next step for collaborations developed through the platform and matchmaking event. Participants are encouraged to use the coming weeks to identify suitable partners, refine project ideas, and establish strong interdisciplinary teams.

Together, the platform, the matchmaking event, and the seed funding call create a pathway from:

Connection → Collaboration → Funding