Aiming to boost innovation and entrepreneurship in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Innovation Hub of the BELLA II project, with the support of RedCLARA, the European Union (EU), and Panama's National Secretariat of Science and Technology (SENACYT), will present the first edition of InnovaInvest on October 23-24. Panama—a regional innovator—is the perfect host for this event.
Under the name InnovaInvest Copernicus Edition, this inaugural event will focus on linking funding opportunities with proposals that leverage the use of data from the EU's Earth observation program, Copernicus. Last year, BELLA II, RedCLARA, and the EU held innovation activities such as the Ideathon, Copernicus Innovation Challenge, and Hackathon for Copernicus Innovation Development, which led to the development of these proposals.
These events gathered over 300 professionals from the academic, governmental, and private sectors from 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as two European countries. The result was the generation of eight innovative and scalable ideas and six technological products using Copernicus data, thereby strengthening collaboration within the regional digital ecosystem.
A panel of key investors will hear these initiatives during InnovaInvest Copernicus Edition with the aim of securing the necessary resources to transform them into high-impact projects and products. While previous events focused on idea and product development, InnovaInvest aims to turn these proposals into tangible realities, with a special focus on critical areas such as climate change and agriculture.
This event represents a unique opportunity for the internationalization of the innovations that emerged and for organizations such as the IDB, the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), SENACYT, IICA, the private sector, and EU delegations to consider supporting them. The goal is to prepare these groups for incubation, acceleration, and development processes that will have a positive impact on the region.
Notable participants include national research and education networks, multilateral organizations, government agencies, seed capital funds, companies, and cooperation entities. The Copernicus Academy for Latin America and the Caribbean (Academia Copernicus LAC) also supports this first edition.
Academia Copernicus LAC is an initiative of RedCLARA, under the BELLA II project, aimed at enhancing capacity building and knowledge management in the use of Copernicus satellite data, focusing on Earth observation thematic areas.
“BELLA II is paving the way for a new era of collaboration in Latin America, connecting ideas with the resources needed to transform the future of our region and achieve sustainable development,” said Luis Eliécer Cadenas, Executive Director of RedCLARA.
InnovaInvest: Copernicus Edition is part of BELLA II's transformative efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean, driving solutions to address the region's most urgent development challenges.
This event offers Panama a unique opportunity to continue strengthening its connection and contributions to the regional digital ecosystem as one of the priority countries of the BELLA II Project and to continue advancing toward digital transformation and meaningful connectivity with the support of RedCLARA.
With the collaboration of key players from the region and Europe, this event also promises to be a driving force for innovation and sustainable development throughout the region, where visionary ideas become tangible projects that have a deep and lasting impact.
About BELLA II.
Aiming to reduce the digital divide and support the development of necessary infrastructure to consolidate and expand a digital ecosystem of science, technology, education, and innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean, BELLA II is a regional initiative. RedCLARA leads it, with the European Union co-financing it.
About RedCLARA
RedCLARA is the collaboration and development space for education, science, and innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean. Its mission is to contribute to the development of science, education, technology, and innovation by articulating, connecting, and strengthening National Research and Education Networks (NRENs).
