Eureka network bolsters international cooperation in innovation

The Eureka network achieved fundamental progress for bolstering international cooperation among its members and the European Commission, transposed in the statement below 

The Eureka network had a meeting this morning with Ministers, Secretaries of State and High Representatives of the Eureka network, together with representatives of the European Commission, which is also part of this network.

During the high-level meeting, the entry of countries outside Europe, as full rights members, was approved and officialised. In this sense, and with the aim of boosting Eureka’s international expansion, while acknowledging the importance of transnational cooperation, the integration of South Korea and Canada was signed, in addition to agreeing on Chile being reassociated. 

The assertion of the Eureka network internationally, namely in the European space, was consolidated via a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Eureka Network and the European Commission, with the aim of strengthening Eureka’s crucial role in the European Research Area and the European Innovation Agenda. 

The agreement arises following recognition by the European Commission in fulfilling the goals inherent in the European funding programmes for research and innovation, such as boosting industry science and technology base. 

Strengthening the Eureka network, as well as the international innovation sector was approved via a memorandum of understanding that sets a 2-billion-euro investment in the so-called "Partnership on Innovative SMEs within the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation". 

The investment by 27 countries, the European Commission and industry, allows the funding of projects via Eurostars and Innowwide, for research, development and innovation, as well as exploring markets. 

It was also decided that the Portuguese presidency of the Eureka Network would be extended. It was supposed to run until the end of June, but will be extended until the end of the year -  31 December 2022. 

The acknowledgement of the importance of the Eureka Network in economic growth in a post-pandemic scenario was unanimous, by adapting the transformation due to the energy and digital transition, such as the development of sustainable and digital products, services and processes, and as a platform for collaboration between R&D centres and companies. 

Since its inception in 1985, the Eureka Network has supported, through 40 billion euros, 50 thousand small and medium-sized enterprises, higher education institutions and research centres, to a total of 7 thousand research and development projects.

 It has therefore driven innovation, the creation of scientific jobs and industry development, thereby becoming the greatest global network for attracting public and private investment for research, development and innovation projects and activities.