Science, Innovation and Partnerships in Action: Advancing the UfM R&I Agenda in Brussels
- Three-day UfM meetings in Brussels (21–23 October) advanced the Regional R&I Agenda and fed inputs toward a possible second Ministerial Declaration.
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Working Groups on Researcher Mobility and Open Data and the 2nd R&I Funders’ Coordination Meeting progressed proposals on access to infrastructure, mobility and science diplomacy, and alignment of funding.
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The 31st UfM Regional Platform on Research and Innovation, co-chaired by the European Commission and Jordan’s Higher Council for Science and Technology, reviewed strategic initiatives including the Research Scalability Strategy, MEL mechanism and FUTURE4PRIMA.
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The Innovation Fair, co-organised by the European Commission, the UfM and the African Union, drew 500+ on-site participants and 200 online, showcasing startups, stands and matchmaking.
Brussels, 21-23 October 2025. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) convened a three-day series of meetings in Brussels from 21 to 23 October to advance its Research and Innovation (R&I) Agenda. Anchored in the UfM Regional Platform for R&I, the cycle produced strategic inputs toward a possible second UfM Ministerial Declaration on R&I and reaffirmed the role of science and innovation in delivering shared Euro-Mediterranean priorities.
Technical sessions of the Working Groups on Researcher Mobility and Open Data, together with the 2nd R&I Funders’ Coordination Meeting, examined measures to strengthen access to research infrastructure, academic mobility and science diplomacy. Participants also explored closer alignment among national and regional funding bodies to improve coordination and impact across the region.
31st Meeting of the UfM Regional Platform on Research and Innovation
The 31st meeting of the UfM Regional Platform on Research and Innovation, one of the longest-standing dialogue frameworks in the Euro-Mediterranean, was held on the second day under the chairmanship of the European Commission and Jordan’s Higher Council for Science and Technology. Representatives of UfM Member States and observers, including PRIMA and UNIMED, discussed:
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- Strategic input toward a possible second UfM Ministerial Declaration on Research and Innovation.
- Updates on the UfM Research Scalability Strategy, the Platform’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) mechanism, and the FUTURE4PRIMA initiative.
- Presentation of R&I activities highlighted in the new EU Pact for the Mediterranean, particularly on innovation and science diplomacy.
- Overview of UfM-led initiatives, including the Science for Policy Workshop and the “From Research to Business” trainings.
Innovation Fair: Enabling That Step Forward
The meetings culminated in the Innovation Fair, co-organised by the European Commission, the UfM and the African Union. Building on the 2024 EuroMed edition in Cairo, the Fair featured innovation stands, startup pitches and matchmaking sessions. Over 500 participants attended on-site with 200 joining online, underscoring the vibrancy and interconnection of innovation communities across Europe, Africa and the Mediterranean.
“As we celebrate 30 years since Barcelona, let us reaffirm a simple truth: science, technology and innovation are not peripheral, they are central to our Euro-Mediterranean partnership. They turn dialogue into delivery, and aspiration into action,” said Joan Borrell, UfM Deputy Secretary General for Higher Education and Research.
The Brussels outcomes will inform upcoming strategic discussions on the future of sectoral regional cooperation. They further position research and innovation as drivers of inclusive development, integration and resilience across the Euro-Mediterranean region.
