Over the last three years, the IUC Latin American and the Caribbean (IUC-LAC) programme has facilitated 42 exchanges as part of the third IUC component: region-to-region cooperation. The exchanges involved European regions and their Latin American counterparts in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

Last October, representatives from all regions met in Brussels to share experiences and good practices, and to enhance knowledge of a methodology known as the Research and Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3). The methodology capitalises on local strengths, and its presentation further ensured that the meeting promoted inclusive dialogue, and supported regions to enter and compete in global innovation chains.

Each regional cooperation was productive and successful in its own way. Exchange between Ideon-Skåne (Sweden) and the Central Region of Colombia, for example, resulted in delegates working on a collaborative proposal that responds to the needs identified through their region-to-region cooperation, such as a need for additional applied research in the agricultural sector; innovation in the agri-food industry; application of information technology in agriculture; further development of ecotourism; and the efficient management and consumption of products. In another case, cooperation between the regions of Córdoba (Argentina) and Castilla y León (Spain) resulted in a new connection between educational centres in the regions. These centres presented potential common work areas for the future, such as industrial doctorates, innovative public procurement programmes, and engaging with the International Cybersecurity Ventures Acceleration Programme for start-ups.

These are just two examples that demonstrate the potential of decentralised cooperation between regions in Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean.

General programme evaluation – conducted at the end of 2019 – confirmed this assertion. When asked for their feedback, participants from the regions expressed that the ability to identify cooperation partners, and the possibility of networking were the most important elements of the region-to-region cooperation. When asked about the motivations that led their regional governments to participate in the programme, the main responses identified were: the opportunity to share and/or learn from experiences in innovation policies and smart specialisation (RIS3) with other countries; and the possibility of finding partners to advance concrete cooperation projects.

These responses are in-line with the core mission of the IUC programme, and further point to the potential for international cooperation to advance sustainable urban development.

Header image by IUC-LAC, taken at the final Region-to-Region Meeting.