Portugal organizes the first meeting of the 5+5 Dialogue on Research, Innovation and Higher Education (2022-2024)

Portugal organized the 13th meeting of senior representatives (GSO), the first of Portugal's presidency and Mauritania's vice-presidency of the 5+5 Dialogue on Research, Innovation and Higher Education for the 2022-2024 biennium, which took place on 26 and 27 January with the aim of planning the implementation of the commitments made during the 5th Ministerial Conference last October in Nouakchott, Mauritania.

This remote GSO made it possible for the delegates from the member countries - Algeria, France, Libya, Italy, Mauritania, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Tunisia and Spain - to present the plan of activities planned for 2023 and to exchange information on cooperation opportunities with the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the European Commission, which participated as observers, as well as with the Director of the Union of Mediterranean Universities (UNIMED).

The chair was taken by the President of the Foundation for Science and Technology, Madalena Alves, who expressed confidence in the work carried out by the countries in leading each action of the work plan for the biennium, with a view to the objectives of promoting cooperation, social cohesion, youth employment and sustainable development in the Western Mediterranean region.

These objectives will be pursued through the implementation of new networking tools, fostering research linked to socio-economic development and open cooperation for research and innovation (R&I), while strengthening institutional R&I and Higher Education ecosystems, promoting quality assurance and blended learning practices for skills development and talent circulation, with a focus on the implementation areas of the UfM roadmaps, the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Region(PRIMA) and the sustainable blue economy.