How university partnerships could ignite innovation in the Global South

Universities play a crucial role in this strategy by fostering international alliances between the Global North and Global South Image: Tecnológico de Monterrey
- The phenomenon of relocation, which brings production and supply chains closer to end consumers by connecting countries, provides a key opportunity for emerging economies, especially in the Global South.
- Emerging economies have a window of opportunity to capitalize on this trend by adopting a strategic approach centred on innovation and technological development.
- Universities play a crucial role in this strategy by fostering international alliances between the Global North and Global South, promoting applied research, and driving innovation ecosystems through collaboration with industry and public sector.
The world is undergoing unprecedented changes. We are facing what some call "a change of era," characterized by rapid technological advancements like AI, climate change, geopolitical challenges, and social and demographic transformations.
In this context, the phenomenon of relocation, which brings production and supply chains closer to end consumers by connecting countries, provides a key opportunity for emerging economies, especially in the Global South. It offers a unique opportunity for emerging economies to unlock significant growth potential, and not only to attract jobs but also to evolve toward higher value-added activities.
Adopting a strategic approach focused on innovation and technological development is relevant for this transformation.
Historically, regions like Latin America have struggled to capitalize on major global transformations. According to a McKinsey report, since the early 1980s, Latin America’s productivity growth rate has averaged only 0.4 percent annually – about one-fifth of the average in developing economies globally. This highlights the urgent need to advance in innovation, technological development and talent.
Universities hold a pivotal role in this transformation. With their capacity for innovation, long-term thinking, and interdisciplinary and international collaboration, they can envision and shape the future comprehensively. The recent "Pact for the Future" by the UN promotes multilateral cooperation and support from the Global North in areas such as climate action, technology transfer and capacity development.
Research is a fundamental mission for universities. A study published by Elsevier indicates that the scientific impact of academic international collaborations is 52% above the global average of non-international collaborative research. Studies also show that co-authored articles are more frequently cited, indicating higher impact and relevance.
If universities and industries in developed economies collaborate with research initiatives in the Global South to tackle global challenges relevant to the local context, the potential for regional impact is tremendous. Building meaningful partnerships goes beyond signing MOUs. It requires the alignment of expectations, complementary value propositions, and the commitment of resources and effort. The most impactful relationships involve strategic alliances that contribute to the various partners' initiatives by leveraging collective strengths, forming networks and platforms that encourage collaboration, supporting shared resources and knowledge exchange, and amplifying impact.
If this international alliance promotes more applied research, it is possible to integrate the research expertise of institutions from developed economies with the research and innovation capabilities of universities from emerging economies in order to create a significant impact on communities.
Leveraging combined research excellence
Joint international research projects have the potential to attract funding from global organizations and elevate the relevance and impact of scientific findings. By combining research excellence and capacity building with regional know-how, such collaborations can accelerate the discovery and deployment of innovative solutions.
As an example, the Ragon Institute, which brings together researchers from Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Boston’s Mass General Brigham health system to harness the potential of the immune system to prevent and cure disease, recently signed a collaboration agreement with Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico. This partnership integrates the expertise of these top US research institutions with Tec's innovative capacities, offering the potential to apply breakthrough discoveries to Latin America.
Innovation ecosystems like Kendall Square and Silicon Valley, in the US, are iconic examples of how urban areas, close to universities, can transform into innovation hubs where research and innovation significantly contribute to solving global problems. Although this models emerged in developed nations, countries which have transitioned into developed economies like South Korea and Singapore, have successfully adapted this concept.
Innovation ecosystems such as Ruta N in Medellín, Colombia is an example of adaptation of this concept in an emerging economy. Another example is Distrito Tec in Monterrey, Mexico, led by Tecnológico de Monterrey. In its initial phase, Distrito Tec achieved urban regeneration, sustainability and economic growth by creating public spaces, adopting renewable energy and generating jobs. It is now beginning a second phase as an innovation district, with the launch of an iconic initiative, EXPEDITION FEMSA, at its core, fostering interdisciplinary applied research and industry partnerships.
Innovation ecosystems driven by universities in regions like Latin America and other emerging economies, have the potential to drive economic growth and development by considering the following:
- International, Global North-Global South collaboration
- Applied research to stimulate development
- Technology-based entrepreneurship
- Academia, industry and public sector collaboration
In summary, relocation, disruption brought by new technologies like AI and global trends like climate change, the need to increase productivity and to evolve towards higher value-added jobs, present challenges and opportunities for emerging economies. The late US senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan once said: "If you want to build a world-class city, build a great university and wait 200 years." However, emerging economies participating in relocation ecosystem cannot afford to wait 200 years. Universities can help them advance substantially faster by acting as catalysts of collaboration between the Global North and Global South to foster innovation, increase applied research activity and lead innovation ecosystems.
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Gilles Moëc
February 10, 2025