The European Union and Chile have continued to reaffirm their robust and strategic partnership in research and innovation throughout the eleventh Chile–EU Joint Steering Committee Meeting (JSCM), held on 13 January 2026 in Santiago, Chile
The JSCM assembly came about beneath the framework of the Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the European Community and the Republic of Chile and was hosted by Chile in a hybrid format.
The session was co-chaired by Emilie Rojas, International Affairs Adviser at the Cabinet of the Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation of Chile, and Carole Mancel-Blanchard, Head of Unit for International Cooperation – Europe and Americas at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation.
The JSCM assembly was opened and closed by Marc Lemaître, Director-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission, along with Cristian Cuevas Vega, Vice-Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation of Chile.
Shared values
The discussions confirmed how the EU and Chile can come collectively on key priorities and how they act as dependable companions. Both sides underscore the significance of shared values and rules, an element that’s more and more vital in the advanced world geopolitical setting. Research and innovation were reaffirmed as an important part of the broader EU–Chile relationship and as important drivers for sustainable improvement, competitiveness, and resilience.
Chile’s priorities in science and expertise
Chile introduced an outline of its nationwide methods and coverage initiatives in science, expertise, and innovation.
These included developments in synthetic intelligence, supercomputing infrastructure, information centres and digital ecosystems, in addition to insurance policies associated to lithium, salars and uncooked supplies. Chile additionally highlighted its world-class astronomical infrastructure and its structural funding schemes supporting university-based research, improvement, and innovation.
These priorities present Chile’s ambition to strengthen its place as a regional chief in superior research areas whereas deepening worldwide cooperation with trusted companions.
European Union coverage initiatives and programmes
The European Union outlined a number of main initiatives shaping its present and future research and innovation agenda. These included the Competitive Compass, latest updates to the European Economic Security Strategy, the Startup and Scaleup Strategy, and the AI in Science Strategy.
Additional focus was positioned on the Life Sciences Strategy, the European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures, the Choose Europe for Science initiative, and the forthcoming European Innovation Act.
The EU additionally introduced matters from the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026–2027 that could possibly be of specific curiosity to Chilean researchers and establishments.
Priority areas for cooperation
Both sides confirmed a variety of precedence areas for cooperation. These embody research coaching, mobility and profession improvement; area cooperation and Earth remark, notably via the Copernicus Programme; and digital applied sciences, together with AI in science and the EU–LAC Digital Alliance.
Other key areas cowl life sciences, particularly the local weather change and well being nexus, biotechnology and the bioeconomy, in addition to the inexperienced vitality transition, with a concentrate on Mission Innovation, inexperienced hydrogen, and lithium.
Marine and polar research and astronomy research infrastructures had been additionally highlighted, with particular consideration to the European Southern Observatory’s distinctive amenities hosted by Chile.
Chile’s robust engagement in Horizon Europe was recalled, rating fourth amongst Latin American international locations and thirteenth amongst non-EU and non-associated international locations. The European Commission emphasised the significance of reinforcing Chile’s National Contact Point community and exploring complementary funding mechanisms to additional help Chilean participation in the programme.