12 Dec 2023
EC and Chile meet hold Steering Committee meeting on R&I cooperation
On 1 December 2023, the EU and Chile convened the 10th Joint Steering Committee meeting on research and innovation (R&I) cooperation in Brussels. The meeting was hosted by DG Research and Innovation of the European Commission (EC) and co-chaired by Maria Cristina Russo, Director for International Cooperation DG R&I, and by Gonzalo Arenas, Head of International Cooperation, Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation (MSTKI) of Chile.
Chile is an important partner country for the EU in research and innovation, due to the country's advanced S&T system and shared values. The policy dialogue covered diverse areas, emphasising cooperation in the following:
- Research Infrastructures – where there is already good cooperation in astronomy and astrophysics, with two ESFRI flagship telescope projects under construction in Chile, with the possibility to extend cooperation to environment monitoring research infrastructures.
- Raw Materials – following the recent signature of the bilateral MoU for a partnership on raw materials value chains.
- Clean Hydrogen – where there is potential for cooperation under the Horizon Europe Clean Energy Transition Co-Fund Partnerships and through the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking projects. building on Chile’s strong involvement as co-lead of the Mission Innovation Clean Hydrogen Mission.
- Marine and Polar Research – in view of the pole-to-pole approach of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance.
- Space Research and Earth Observation – following the Cooperation Administration Arrangement on Copernicus (signed in 2018), and the recent establishment of the CopernicusLAC Centre in Chile, with a renewed focus on addressing climate change, environment, and emergency management.
- Researcher Mobility – notably through the Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions where new promotion actions are envisaged, involving Euraxess and NCPs.
- Digital Transition – where there is potential to increase cooperation on digital issues, notably relating to secure digital connectivity and the ethical use of artificial intelligence.
The meeting set the stage for continued cooperation, with plans to advance discussions on various fronts in 2024. The focus includes technical discussions and active participation in the multilateral dialogue values and principles for international R&I cooperation under the Global Approach.
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