Support to the EU-Caribbean cooperation on marine research under the Horizon Europe research programme

Abstract

Final remarks: the momentum is optimal and critical to increase the EU support to marine sciences cooperation with/within the Caribbean region. It will be very much welcomed by the regional scientific community and will substantially enhance not only evidence-based policy design but also provide access to international and regional networks, infrastructures, and visibility to Caribbean researchers, who are currently disarticulated and working in isolation. By enhancing their working conditions, stability, and career prospects to fight brain drain, as well as their intra-regional opportunities for cooperation, the human capacity in the region will be able to better address national, regional, and international development (and environmental) agendas. Therefore, the EU support shall catalyze regional efforts and partners that, coupled with effective STI policy instruments in line with the UNESCO 2017 Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers, will increase the knowledge co-production and transfer required to empower Caribbean societies, particularly the most vulnerable groups, towards climate resilience and sustainable blue development. It is time for evidenced action; it is time for science.