Recently, local experts, the business community, and NGOs attended the “Horizon Europe Workshop”. The European Union, the Uruguayan Agency for International Cooperation (AUCI), the University of Aruba, and the Department of Economic Affairs, Commerce and Industry organized this workshop, led by Mr. Humprey Vrolijk.
Horizon Europe is a financial program of the European Union for Research and Innovation to fortify the scientific and technological basis and promote the level of competitiveness of member states. For the period 2021-2021, this program has a budget of € 95.5 million available.
The Minister of Economic Affairs, Geoffrey Wever, gave a speech indicating the opportunities provided to Aruba with this program to academic institutions, businesses, Government organizations, and Non-Government organizations that can qualify for these funds to finance their research and innovation projects.
The Minister stated that Research & Innovation” is the key to managing substantiated development. Therefore it is essential to use the research findings when formulating decisions for management and investments to have a real impact. The system in which we operate changes rapidly, and this is what makes innovation and research essential”. The workshop addressed the variety of innovation and research programs and how Aruba could qualify and apply for these funds.
As the Minister responsible for economic affairs and sustainable development, he firmly believes in Research and Innovation as a tool to help reach more sustainable economic growth. Aruba can not continue on the same track of unsustainable economic development as has been done for the past 30 years. Our financial funds are limited hence it is essential to explore and use other funds sources.
Horizon Europe is a great opportunity for academics, commerce, and NGOs.
About Horizon Europe
This research and innovation program of the European Union started this year and runs until 2027. It has a budget of 95.5 billion Euros to be used for the many subprograms.
Addressed themes are, and others, climate change, resilience, clean energy, biodiversity. The main objective is to create new economic growth and employment for the future.
