The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Regional Platform in Research and Innovation launched its virtual kick-off consultation process on 17 March 2021. The meeting brought together more than 70 participants: members of the newly established Expert Group and key stakeholders from national contact points and relevant institutions and organisations, as well as members of the Bureau of the Union for the Mediterranean Research and Innovation Platform.
This consultation process aims at outlining the future of the cooperation between the EU and the Mediterranean in the area of research and innovation, towards a more sustainable course for the Mediterranean region.
The meeting on 17 March, officially launch an online survey to gather input from stakeholders, participants to the consultation process as well as the representatives from the Expert Group.
Share your ideas: the survey is available here!
Stakeholders are encouraged to participate and share the survey with colleagues.
You have time to fill it until 7 May 2021.
At the top of the agenda on 17 March was a presentation of the three draft Roadmaps (Theory of Change and Impact Pathways, TCIPs) initiated in 2020 by the Expert Group, and addressed in this ongoing consultation process. The online meeting recognised the important role of stakeholders also in providing input to help outline and finalise the three draft Roadmaps (TCIPs).
In terms of output, outcomes and impacts, speakers highlighted efforts to increase public support and the benefits of adopting a standard and harmonised approach in evaluating progress. Specifically for the priority area of renewable energy, they noted the advantages of developing a database and digital platform that can be shared among UfM countries. This, in turn, will inspire the sharing of experience on renewable energy policy.
During the meeting, it was agreed that the three priorities are interlinked. This means that although they are characterised by different impacts and expected risks, they all lead towards sustainable development and innovation promotion. This forms the basis for a future UfM Crisis Management Concept.
The Roadmaps and TCIPs will be further refined by the Expert Group in view of their final adoption at the 27th meeting of the UfM Platform in June 2021. To have your say on the outline of the three draft Roadmaps (TCIPs), participate to the survey!
The second virtual consultation will be held on 21 April 2021 (9:00 – 12:00 CET).
Background information
The UfM Regional Platform in Research and Innovation actively supports the sustainable development of the Mediterranean region and plays a central role in stimulating and monitoring Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in the fields of research and innovation.
The virtual meeting on 17 March 2021 was an opportunity to recognise the important role of research and innovation, share information and lay the foundation for future steps. The challenge represented by the COVID-19 pandemic has proven once more that science-based solutions together with innovation are fundamental in our recovery and will pave the way to a greener and more digital future. Opening remarks were made by Co-chairs of the UfM Bureau Platform on research and innovation, Nienke Buisman (EC DG-RTD) and Rasha Smadi (HCST Jordan) and Itaf Ben Abdallah, UfM Secretariat, Senior Advisor on Higher Education and Research. In this context, key speakers reiterated UfM’s commitment to stimulating and monitoring Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in the fields of research and innovation.
Armela Dino of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and Maurizio Cellura of the University of Palermo presented the online survey, which will be available until 7 May 2021.
In June 2020 the Platform initiated an Expert Group and developed draft Roadmaps (Theory of Change and Impact Pathways – TCIPs) in the priority areas of health, renewable energy and climate change. These Roadmaps (TCIPs) set out the main challenges in the region from the perspective of research and innovation collaboration between Member States of the UfM, as well as potential intervention areas for enhancing this collaboration in the coming years.
Details
- Publication date
- 25 March 2021