The EU-LAC Digital Accelerator is an initiative financed under the Neighborhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe) in the framework of the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, focused on fostering multi-stakeholder and private sector collaboration, competitiveness, digital skills and innovation through the establishment of a regional EU-LAC Digital Accelerator.
The #EULACDigitalAccelerator works as a multi-sided platform connecting business opportunities from corporates with innovative startups and SMEs between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean. The initiative is formed by ten organisations distributed in these two continents, consolidating one strong team.
Want to learn more about the people involved? Do not miss our ‘Meet the Team’!
Today we are interviewing Ms. Tatiana Virviescas, Private Finance Operations Senior Specialist at IDB Lab.
Check out this short video where she shares some valuable information, and for more details on our conversation, we invite you to read the full article.
Hello Tatiana! Let’s start by explaining your role at IDB Lab.
Hello! I work as a Private Finance Operations Senior Specialist at IDB Lab of the Inter-American Development Bank in Mexico. I focus on mobilising financing, knowledge, and connections to catalyse innovation for inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean. To do so, I develop innovative projects focused on early-stage ventures and the entrepreneurship ecosystem, with the potential to generate impact on a large scale.
We would like to know more about your organisation, your focus, and your field of expertise.
IDB Lab is the innovation laboratory of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, the leading source of development finance and expertise for improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. We promote early-stage entrepreneurial innovations, focusing on two regional development priorities: i) benefiting poor and vulnerable populations, and ii) activating new engines of sustainable growth.
How is this linked to the EU-LAC Digital Accelerator? Can you explain the role you envision playing in this meaningful project?
Our organisation is the innovation lab of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, which is the leading source of development finance and expertise for improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. We have offices in 28 countries in the region, and we will use our presence and experience in the region to assist the EU-LAC Digital Accelerator in identifying gaps, needs, and priorities in digital cooperation and innovation. Additionally, we will support the identification of investment opportunities for joint ventures that generate growth in the entrepreneurial ecosystem and promote collaboration between the EU and LAC.
What are the primary actions or activities that you are currently working on in the project that you are most excited about?
We are helping develop a stakeholder map and supporting the identification and contact with stakeholders: large companies, corporate venture initiatives, startups (through a network of incubators, accelerators, and investors), financial institutions and public institutions working with the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. We will also play a key role in disseminating the initiative in the region with our network of allies to get LAC startups to join the program.
What positive impact do you hope to generate at the EU-LAC Digital Accelerator?
Our objective is to contribute to the acceleration of the process of economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean, individually and collectively, contributing to establish fruitful cooperation between innovative LAC startups and EU corporations focused on digitalisation applied in areas such as agriculture, energy transition, climate change, sustainable mobility, and health amongst others.
What are the biggest challenges to boosting digital cooperation between Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean? And the keys to solving them?
Lack of access to digital opportunities – promoting collaboration between regions, creating joint ventures between corporations and startups, and accelerating funding opportunities are vital to closing this gap and boosting digital cooperation.
Do you have previous experience managing European projects? If so, what do you find to be the most fulfilling aspect?
This is my first time participating in an EU-LAC project, and I am incredibly excited to spark innovation and collaboration between both regions!
In one sentence, how would you summarise the EU-LAC Digital Accelerator?
The EU-LAC Digital Accelerator is a dynamic platform that fosters digitalisation, innovation and collaboration between startups and corporations from both Latin America and the Caribbean and the European Union.
Subscribe to our Newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn , Twitter and Instagram so you don’t miss a thing!