The Department of Energy at Politecnico di Milano participated in the initiative with Emanuela Colombo and Riccardo Mereu, both Work Package Leaders of the LEAP-ENERGY+ project, a new program that builds on the legacy of LEAP-RE and LEAP-SE initiatives and aims to strengthen collaboration between Europe and Africa in the development of innovative solutions for sustainable energy. Emanuela Colombo also contributed to the work as a member of the CCSE Expert Team, an appointment held upon nomination by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR).

Over the three-day event, results achieved by programs launched in recent years were presented, and the new initiatives LEAP-ENERGY+ and CAPA were officially launched. The sessions addressed strategic topics such as renewable energy, energy storage, hydrogen, electric mobility, sustainable agriculture, and the interaction between research and public policy.

Particular attention was given to the role of international scientific cooperation in enabling the transfer of innovations from research to market and in promoting concrete solutions for energy access and climate resilience. The Forum also represented a key moment for defining future priorities in EU–African cooperation through the development of the CCSE roadmap for the 2028–2034 period.

The participation of the Department of Energy confirms Politecnico di Milano’s commitment to international research and innovation networks dedicated to the energy transition and sustainable development, contributing to the creation of scientific partnerships capable of generating tangible global impact.