São Paulo, 6 October 2025 - The first day of the high-level closing event "Pathways and Future: Innovation, Sustainability and Intellectual Property" marked the culmination of more than three years of work under Component 3 - Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of the European Union's AL-INVEST Verde programme. The conference, co-organised by Component 3's implementing partner, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), together with SEBRAE Origens and INPI Brazil, brought together leading Latin American IP offices, policy makers, business leaders, academics and producers to highlight how intellectual property (IP) has become a catalyst for sustainable and inclusive growth in the region.

A review of achievements

Since its launch in 2022, Component 3 has supported Latin American IP institutions, SMEs and startups, as well as other actors, in harnessing the potential of IP to drive innovation and competitiveness. Key outcomes of the project include:

- Capacity building: more than 5,000 public officials, entrepreneurs and IP professionals trained in the strategic use of IP for business development and sustainability.
- Institutional strengthening: support to IP offices in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay to modernise systems, improve services and strengthen regional integration.
- Mentoring in Geographical Indications (GI) "AL-INVmentor": 27 groups of producers of agricultural or artisanal goods benefited from customised mentoring programmes that helped them leverage IP rights - particularly GIs - to add value to their products. The success stories include producers of coffee, cocoa, tea, honey, traditional crops such as açaí and native potatoes, as well as silk and wicker, who demonstrate how sustainable practices and origin labelling can open up new markets.
- Knowledge products: a wide range of studies, policy papers and practical guides were produced that provide tools for both institutions and businesses to integrate IP into sustainable strategies.
- Women and IP: special visibility was given to the contributions of women IP leaders, including judges and inventors, to exemplify the transformative role of IP in building inclusive economies.
- Awareness-raising and outreach: development of targeted campaigns, video series and events that increased the visibility of IP as a driver of sustainable value chains and green business models.

Highlights of the closing agenda

The event opened with interventions from SEBRAE, INPI Brazil, EUIPO and the Directorate General for International Partnerships (INTPA) of the European Commission, who highlighted the partnership between the European Union and Latin America in the framework of Global Gateway, as well as the role of the AL-INVEST Verde programme as a bridge between sustainability, innovation and intellectual property. The thematic panels explored key dimensions such as the strategic use of IP by SMEs and startups, the contribution of IP to sustainable businesses and communities, and the role of geographical indications and designations of origin as drivers of territorial development and market access.

A particularly inspiring session was "My product, my story". It featured the beneficiaries of "AL-INVmentor", a new action of the programme that offered tailor-made mentoring sessions on Geographical Indications (GI) and Designations of Origin (DO) for agricultural, food and artisanal products. Beneficiaries shared first-hand experiences on how the strategic use of IP has contributed to creating or transforming their products (value chains) and opening up new market opportunities. The stories of producers of Paraguayan honey and Peruvian native potatoes highlighted the human face of IP and its potential to transform lives. This session also marked the culmination of the mentoring for Brazilian coffee GIs, held as part of the closing activities.

Looking to the future

Although Component 3 of the AL-INVEST Verde programme formally concludes, its legacy will continue to shape IP practices and sustainable value chains throughout Latin America. The networks created, the knowledge shared and the stories of producers supported are proof of how IP can serve as a bridge between innovation, sustainability, gender inclusion and inclusive economic growth.

Looking ahead, national IP offices and regional partners in Latin America are already exploring new areas of cooperation, including the use of digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) tools, deeper regional integration and the incorporation of IP into sustainable development agendas. The European Union will remain a key partner on this path, working closely with institutions in the region to ensure that the knowledge, tools and collaborations fostered under AL-INVEST Verde IPR continue to generate impact.

The project also laid the groundwork for specific thematic IP partnerships led by EUIPO, which will enable European and Latin American stakeholders to cooperate more strategically in priority areas such as inclusion, technology transfer and SME support. These discussions, initiated during the closing event, confirm that the momentum created by the project will endure, benefiting businesses, institutions and communities beyond its duration.

Looking ahead, the next edition of the AL-INVEST Next programme - currently under development - will continue to support various activities in Latin America and will extend its reach also to the Caribbean, in close alignment with the priorities of the Global Gateway Investment Agenda.

Context

AL-INVEST Verde - the EU-Latin America Partnership for Sustainable Growth and Jobs has a track record of more than 30 years. In its sixth "Green" edition, with an EU contribution of €40 million, the programme has a strong focus on sustainability and the green agenda, especially in the context of trade, involving actors from Europe and Latin America, with the objective of promoting sustainable economic growth in the region.