Abstract:

The European Outermost Regions (ORs), specifically Madeira, Azores, Canary Islands, and La Réunion, grapple with a conspicuous deficit in innovation, positioning themselves approximately 50% below the European average. This discrepancy is attributable to factors such as underinvestment in research and development (R&D), limited engagement in knowledge-intensive sectors, sparse patent applications, and insufficient technology transfer. In response to this challenge, within the framework of the EU-funded INCORE project, the University of Madeira has proposed the establishment of a new research centre, named OSEAN (Outermost Regions Sustainable Ecosystem for Entrepreneurship and Innovation), a strategic initiative aimed at fortifying the innovation ecosystem. Over a span of approximately two years, OSEAN has already made substantial contributions to this cause, including the formation of international cooperation consortia, successful applications for European projects, the establishment of a postgraduate programme in Green and Digital Innovation, an increase in publications in high-impact international journals, research scholarships for doctoral students, and the creation of a short film focused on sustainability. As a result, OSEAN’s efforts have advanced skills, knowledge, employment opportunities, innovation, and international collaboration, addressing local and regional challenges such as environmental preservation, economic diversification, and institutional strengthening.

Keywords:

Entrepreneurship, Innovation ecosystem, Outermost Regions, OSEAN, Sustainability.