The European Union and Chile have continued to reaffirm their strong and strategic partnership in research and innovation during the 11th Chile–EU Joint Steering Committee Meeting (JSCM), held on 13 January 2026 in Santiago, Chile
The JSCM meeting took place under 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 meeting was opened and closed by Marc Lemaître, Director-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission, together with Cristian Cuevas Vega, Vice-Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation of Chile.
Shared values
The discussions showed how the EU and Chile can come together on key priorities and how they act as reliable partners. Both sides underscore the importance of shared values and principles, a factor that is increasingly significant in the complex global geopolitical environment. Research and innovation were reaffirmed as an important part of the broader EU–Chile relationship and as essential drivers for sustainable development, competitiveness, and resilience.
Chile’s priorities in science and technology
Chile presented an overview of its national strategies and policy initiatives in science, technology, and innovation.
These included developments in artificial intelligence, supercomputing infrastructure, data centres and digital ecosystems, as well as policies related to lithium, salars and raw materials. Chile also highlighted its world-class astronomical infrastructure and its structural funding schemes supporting university-based research, development, and innovation.
These priorities show Chile’s ambition to strengthen its position as a regional leader in advanced research areas while deepening international cooperation with trusted partners.
European Union policy initiatives and programmes
The European Union outlined several major initiatives shaping its current and future research and innovation agenda. These included the Competitive Compass, recent updates to the European Economic Security Strategy, the Startup and Scaleup Strategy, and the AI in Science Strategy.
Additional focus was placed 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 also presented topics from the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026–2027 that could be of particular interest to Chilean researchers and institutions.
Priority areas for cooperation
Both sides confirmed a range of priority areas for cooperation. These include research training, mobility and career development; space cooperation and Earth observation, notably through the Copernicus Programme; and digital technologies, including AI in science and the EU–LAC Digital Alliance.
Other key areas cover life sciences, especially the climate change and health nexus, biotechnology and the bioeconomy, as well as the green energy transition, with a focus on Mission Innovation, green hydrogen, and lithium.
Marine and polar research and astronomy research infrastructures were also highlighted, with special attention to the European Southern Observatory’s unique facilities hosted by Chile.
Chile’s strong engagement in Horizon Europe was recalled, ranking fourth among Latin American countries and thirteenth among non-EU and non-associated countries. The European Commission emphasised the importance of reinforcing Chile’s National Contact Point network and exploring complementary funding mechanisms to further support Chilean participation in the programme.
