ExpectedOutcome:
The proposal will enable the development of a strategic partnership in R&I with Latin America and the Caribbean including - but not limited to - areas such as Cloud, IoT and 5G. The proposal is expected to contribute to the following outcomes:
- Support implementation of commitments related to R&I resulting from digital dialogues with key countries and sub-regional organisations in LAC (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Pacific Alliance, MERCOSUR, EU-LAC Digital Economy Dialogue).
- Develop a roadmap for future R&I cooperation with the LAC region and relevant national, regional and international funding schemes for its application.
- Report on synergies and commonalities in policies, strategies and programmes related to R&I between the EU and partner countries.
- Promote EU values for a human-centric digital transformation and contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Scope:
Joint EU-LAC cooperation on digital transformation has led to the successful completion of the BELLA programme[1], which supported the construction of a new submarine fibre-optic cable linking Lisbon (Portugal) with Fortaleza (Brazil) as well as an onward terrestrial connection with several countries in the region. The new connection provides for the long-term interconnectivity needs of European and Latin American research and innovation communities, but its full potential has not been exploited so far.
The existing digital and ICT dialogues between the EU and Brazil, Mexico and Argentina as well as cooperation with the Pacific Alliance have resulted in agreements to increase cooperation in the area of R&I, and it is expected that the future EU-LAC Digital Dialogue will bring these commitments to a continental perspective, but the agreements made at a political level are still lacking a framework to make this cooperation possible on the ground. Proposals will aim at exploiting the potential of the newly established BELLA network and implement the outcomes of EU-LAC dialogues in relation to digitalisation and R&I.
Proposals are expected to:
- Organize networks, conferences, workshops and other actions that support R&I activities with Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and other countries connected to the BELLA network or members of RedClara[2].
- Promote the exchange of best practices between the European and LAC R&I communities.Collect and analyse information as well conduct surveys and draft reports and position papers on partner countries’ R&I policies, strategies and programmes, including on data governance and data technologies.
- Foster cooperation and prepare ground for joint research and raise greater awareness of R&I and industrial cooperation opportunities.
- The action should ensure that relevant stakeholders from both the EU and the partner countries sides are engaged during the process through regional and international workshops and a set of communication and dissemination actions.
[1]BELLA programme
[2]RedClara (LAC region partner in BELLA programme)
