The VI Ministerial Conference of the 5+5 Dialogue on Research, Innovation, and Higher Education was held today, December 6, 2024, in Lisbon, Portugal, under the Presidency of Portugal and the Co-Presidency of Mauritania. The conference was attended by Ministers of Education, University and Research and the Heads of Delegation from Algeria, France, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Libya, Spain, Portugal, and Tunisia, along with observer delegates from the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA), and the Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED).

The 5+5 Dialogue is a key intergovernmental forum aimed at fostering collaboration among Western Mediterranean countries in strategic areas such as science, technology, innovation, and higher education. Italy plays an important role in the forum through the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics  - OGS, which hosts the Forum Secretariat in Trieste. OGS represents Italy in the Group of Senior Officials (GSO) on behalf of the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR).

During the conference, the Ministers of Education, University and Research and Heads of Delegation from the 10 member countries signed the Lisbon Declaration for Research, Innovation, and Higher Education. This milestone document concludes Portugues presidency and marks the transition to Libya’s Presidency for the 2024 - 2026 term. The declaration highlights the transformative potential of scientific diplomacy, not only as a mechanism for dialogue and peace but also as a means to empower youth and advance sustainable development.

Furthermore the Ministers committed themselves to the signature of the Work Plan for the two-year period 2024–2026 reaffirming their commitment to advancing an innovative, inclusive, and resilient Mediterranean region. This strategic document underscores science diplomacy as an essential tool for promoting youth empowerment and driving sustainable development.

The newly approved work plan highlights Italy’s contributions to the Forum’s objectives, particularly through initiatives that strengthen higher education, research, innovation, and scientific diplomacy. A notable example is the Blue Skills Initiative: Feeding Jobs in the Euro-Mediterranean Region, organized by OGS and funded by MUR. This initiative promotes a sustainable blue economy and prepares professionals with advanced, market-aligned skills tailored to meet the evolving demands of the labor market.