On 2 and 3 June 2025, over 35 leading incubators and accelerators gathered in Madrid for the 2nd workshop “EU-LAC Innovation Cooperation Initiative”.
This gathering, featuring insights from organisations such as the European Business and Innovation Centre Network (EBN), EUREKA, the Spanish National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE), and Fundación madri+d, highlights the growing momentum behind our shared commitment to sustainable development, digital transformation, and inclusive growth.
Participants identified the need for greater knowledge sharing, enhanced access to support instruments, and deeper mutual understanding as key drivers for unlocking the full potential of transatlantic innovation cooperation. A major outcome was the joint effort to develop a concrete understanding of the needs and capabilities of each other’s startups and entrepreneurs, enabling more targeted and impactful collaborations.
The network’s joint visit to South Summit Madrid, a leading global entrepreneurship event connecting startups, investors, and corporates, further amplified opportunities for cross-regional engagement and showcased the vibrant innovation ecosystems of both regions.
Background
The European Commission fund and support the EU-LAC Innovation Cooperation Initiative, a strategic effort to strengthen innovation ties between Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
This initiative launched in 2023 aims to
- bring together innovators from Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean to collaborate on solutions to shared challenges of sustainable development
- structure the presence of EU-affiliated innovators in the LAC region. It is implemented via the organising institutions of the network Technopolis Group and Enrich in LAC
Through this initiative, the Commission aims to empower startups, SMEs, and innovation ecosystems to tackle common challenges and seize new opportunities by facilitating access to networks, markets, and funding instruments.
