The Princeton–African School of Economics Research (PASER) Hub, established as a PIIRS Regional Lab, aims to build a global ecosystem of academic partnerships, scholarly training, and policy engagement for the African continent. It is the culmination of sustained collaboration between faculty and researchers at Princeton and the African School of Economics (ASE), a pan-African institution with universities and research centers in Benin, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire. Grounded in the priority areas of research and innovation necessary for Africa’s development, the Hub’s ethos combines two forces of progress: political economy insights to strengthen state capacity, and science and innovation to push the frontier of development. With regional nodes in West, East, North, and Southern Africa, PASER develops research infrastructure, fosters multidisciplinary collaboration, and expands opportunities for joint training and research across institutions.

Embedded within PIIRS, the PASER Hub advances Princeton’s global engagement by creating a platform for frontier research on political economy, institutional design, and innovation across the continent. The Hub leverages ASE’s strong track record in research production, capacity building, and policy impact—spanning more than 80 research projects, extensive partnerships with African governments, and graduate placements in leading PhD programs worldwide. Through collaborations with Princeton’s Program in African Studies, the Africa World Initiative, and centers such as Mpala, PASER supports student exchanges, visiting scholars, research dissemination, and community-building around Africa-focused scholarship. The Hub ultimately aims to drive technological and institutional transformation by mobilizing research capacity, expanding global partnerships, and strengthening the scientific and policy infrastructure essential for Africa’s sustained development.