Innovation became the fourth pillar following the unanimous decision by the 2020 Senior Officials Meeting to include it in the JIRI structure. Due to this short time period since its addition and the long disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the dialogue on innovation has not progressed as originally envisaged by the delegates. Nevertheless, as existing initiatives show, this pillar offers much to both regions that can be developed through future actions.
Innovation and its social aspects should also be considered, as a solution to problems associated with the quality of life of citizens, many of whom are affected by the global challenges and therefore require diverse approaches, innovative organisational schemes and extensive collaboration.
The Commission has set out the Global Gateway agenda where many investments are related to innovative projects, a good basis to expand the bi-regional cooperation at political and private level.
The European Network of Research and Innovation Centres and Hubs in Latin America and the Caribbean (ENRICH in LAC) is a Horizon 2020 project running from 2021-2023. It aims to encourage and promote innovation cooperation between Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, fostering the innovation capacities in both regions and supporting international partnerships, especially in the fields of global societal challenges.
Opportunities for EU-CELAC cooperation in innovation:
❖ How to foster, promote, implement and align innovation friendly framework conditions at bi-regional level?
❖ Explore collaboration opportunities aiming at fostering bi-regional start-up and incubator networks, facilitating their access to the international market, e.g. by mentoring programs.
❖ Explore potential synergies with the activities and network/matchmaking platform of the ENRICH in LAC Centre.
❖ Explore the potential of the Global Gateway in the frame of the bi-regional innovation cooperation.
❖ Explore potential collaboration opportunities targeting the need for regulating mechanisms in the areas of intellectual property and technology transfer.