Regional Cooperation

Inter-regional cooperation on innovation

Regional governments from Latin America and the Caribbean, including Mexico, are invited to take part in the European Union's IUC region-to-region exchange programme, which will enable them to cooperate with counterparts in the EU in order to promote innovation, competitiveness and new opportunities for their citizens.

Innovation is a key factor in creating competitive economies in the era of globalisation. Experience from the EU shows that working in close partnership, regional level authorities, the private sector and the research community can play a lead role in the process of innovation, and in reducing dependence on declining sectors. The globalised economy and the increasing role of global innovation networks call for innovation policies that go beyond regional and national borders. The programme is intended to help the key actors to generate global partnerships for business and knowledge development and to position their region in global value chains. Under the programme, participating regions will be encouraged, and supported, to analyse their competitive strengths and weaknesses, allowing for the identification of new opportunities in emerging or traditional sectors. The programme will seek to stimulate action in the different dimensions of the innovation process:



1. Technological

Fostering innovation and opportunities for added value in both products and processes within the regions involved, boosting business opportunities and research

2. Organisational

Developing the structures to support Regional Innovation Systems involving a close partnership with the key national and regional actors concerned in order to develop the value chain in the regions participating, from production to distribution, looking for opportunities for growth through cooperation

3. Regional

Developing capacities in the participating regions for decentralised action in cooperation with the national authorities concerned 

Regions taking part in the programme will be supported in the generation of a Regional Innovation Strategy identifying priority areas for innovation. Participants will be expected to engage the different innovation actors (especially the private sector) in a multi-stakeholder approach in the conception and implementation of the strategy and its agreed priorities. Through taking part in the region-to-region exchange programme, regional governments should be able to develop new capacities for action at the decentralised level in order to stimulate regional growth and business development and enhance quality of life.

To find out more, contact: coordination-unit@iuc-europe.eu and click here for updates.

Regional pairings

The following regions will take part in the IUC exchange programme:

ALENTEJO, PORTUGAL

SALTA, ARGENTINA

CASTILLA Y LEÓN, SPAIN

CÓRDOBA, ARGENTINA

OSTROBOTHNIA, FINLAND

TIERRA DEL FUEGO, ARGENTINA

BIELSKO-BIALA, POLAND

REGION OF CIOESTE, BRAZIL

IVACE-VALENCIA, SPAIN

PARANÁ, BRAZIL

BOHEMIA DEL SUR, CZECH REPUBLIC

DISTRITO FEDERAL, BRAZIL

SILESIA, POLAND

MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL

BASQUE COUNTRY, SPAIN

BIOBÍO, CHILE

NORTHERN AND WESTERN REGIONAL ASSEMBLY, IRELAND

O’HIGGINS, CHILE

ASTURIAS, SPAIN

TARAPACÁ, CHILE

LAZIO, ITALY

BOGOTÁ-CUNDINAMARCA, COLOMBIA

IDEON-SKÅNE, SWEDEN

CENTRAL REGION RAPE, COLOMBIA

NORD-EST RUMANI, ROMANIA

METROPOLITAN AREA OF ABURRA VALLEY, COLOMBIA

CANTABRIA, SPAIN

CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO

FEDERAL STATE OF STYRIA, AUSTRIA

PUEBLA, MEXICO

EXTREMADURA, SPAIN

COLIMA, MEXICO

LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA

YUCATÁN, MEXICO

PODLASKIE, POLAND

AREQUIPA, PERU

EMILIA-ROMAGNA, ITALY

PIURA, PERU

VZHODNA SLOVENIJA AND PODRAVJE, SLOVENIA

SAN MARTÍN, PERU