European Network of Research and Innovation Centres and Hubs in Latin America and the Caribbean

To support Europe’s role as the scientific and technological base and to foster its competitiveness including its industries, as well as to contribute to tackling global challenges, the ENRICH Centre (founded as Non-Profit Association in Brazil) facilitates collaboration between European and Brazilian Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) actors.

The CEBRABIC project started as an innovation network focussing on EU-Brazil cooperation.

The overall objective of the follow-up of the CEBRABIC action is to capitalise on the work done and extend the operations of the ENRICH (European Network of Research and Innovation Centres and Hubs) Centre in Brazil to include also other countries in the region.

With an extension to Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay in the initial phase, the strategy developed will include the view to expanding the coverage in the medium-term.

The four countries have been chosen due to their membership status within the South American trade block MERCOSUR and due to their position on the Global Innovation Index 2019.

ENRICH in LAC aims to expand the community in EU and LAC through member-and partnerships, representation and other means of involvement to the Centre and its activities.

Activities in Europe will focus on increasing the visibility of the Centre and its services, establishing new partnerships with STI actors, and facilitate technology transfer.

The ENRICH in LAC service portfolio will be adopted and extended based on the needs and interests of the European researchers and innovators.

Focus will be given to building competences on selected thematic fields such as bioeconomy, digitalisation, renewable energy, sustainable urbanisation as well as on horizontal topics such as capacity building on international cooperation and research and innovation management. The project will have a duration of 36 months.

The self-sustainability objective is foreseen to be reached until the end of the funding phase.