UfM Regional Platform on Research and Innovation

UfM Regional Platform on Research and Innovation has its origins in 1995 when the first Euro-Mediterranean Committee was created to promote and monitor cooperation in the fields of research, technology and development.

Today, the UfM Regional Platform on Research and Innovation, coordinated by the UfM Co-Presidency, convenes UfM Member States to:

• • Recommend joint research priorities.
  • Address science, technology, and innovation issues.

The dialogue includes observer participation from organizations like the League of Arab States, and connects with initiatives such as PRIMA and BLUEMED. This platform supports sustainable human development in the Euro-Mediterranean region through:

• acting as a forum for the exchange of information, views and recommendations on research and innovation policy in the Mediterranean region, and establishing a common information base on this subject;
• identifying issues of regional importance to be addressed by research and innovation and requiring cooperative Euro-Mediterranean activities, including initiatives from both shores;
• preparing and executing a work programme, where relevant, either through the Platform itself or through the establishment of ad-hoc working groups reporting directly to the Platform;
• proposing specific actions to be taken in the interest of the region;
• monitoring and providing feedback on research and innovation policies, developments and activities in the Euro-Mediterranean context;
• supporting and preparing the UfM Ministerial Meetings on Research and Innovation as well as reporting to and contributing to follow-up on issues concerning science, technology and innovation.

• Ministerial Declaration: the UfM Ministerial Declaration on Research and Innovation (2022).
• Roadmap: UfM Roadmap on R&I, Theories of Change and Impact Pathways (June 2022)
• Implementation Plan: Implementation Plan Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) R&I Priorities (June 2022)

The activities of the UfM Secretariat in the area of Research and Innovation aim to:

• contribute to Sustainable Development Goals 9, “Fostering innovation”, and 4, “Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all”, as well as to all SDGs where the research and innovation dimension plays a crucial role in their successful achievement;
• aims to reinforce the positive role of Science Diplomacy in enhancing regional cooperation in the Mediterranean while developing skills and promoting circulation of talents, especially on fields of sustainable development where Research and Innovation play a prominent role;
• promote cross-cutting and enabling actions that facilitate the R&I Roadmaps, and in particular the knowledge triangle comprising research, continuity of education, innovation, which includes the following key stakeholders: researchers, students, entrepreneurs, NGO officers, and policy-makers, and
• promote innovation as a tool for building knowledge, skills, vocational training, careers and economic inclusion of Mediterranean graduates and researchers.

• 27th Meeting of the Union for the Mediterranean Regional Platform in Research and Innovation (7 July 2021)
  • Approval of the UfM Theories of Change / Impact Pathways (Roadmaps)
• The Ministerial Conference on research and innovation (R&I) of the Union for the Mediterranean (27 June 2022.)
• First Euro-Mediterranean Conference on Science Diplomacy (3 October 2023)
• UfM, EU, and LAS meet in Cairo to tackle challenges through R&I (3 October 2024)

(The platform started operating under different names since 1995 with the Process of Barcelona.)

• European Commission Directorate-General for DG RTD – DG for Research and Innovation (DG RTD)
• European Commission Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations
• The Higher Council for Science and Technology