University leaders from Europe and Latin America gathered in Cádiz to explore new opportunities for academic cooperation, research and innovation, strengthening connections across the Atlantic.
The SEA-EU European University Alliance and ALMAR, the Latin American and Caribbean Alliance of Universities of the Sea, came together on 29 October during InnovAzul 2026, held in Cádiz, Spain, for an institutional meeting aimed at strengthening cooperation between universities on both sides of the Atlantic.
Hosted within the framework of the event, “Connecting Alliances through the Sea: SEA-EU and ALMAR” brought together representatives of the University of Cádiz, including its Rector, Casimiro Mantell, and the University of Magdalena (Colombia), represented by its Rector, Pablo Vera Salazar, alongside representatives of both university alliances. The meeting also involved CEIMAR (International Campus of Excellence of the Sea), highlighting its role in fostering international cooperation in marine and maritime research and education. Among the participants was John Alexander Taborda, from the University of Magdalena and involved in CEIMAR’s coordination in Colombia, as well as Marcela Iglesias, SEA-EU General Coordinator.
The discussions focused on identifying shared priorities and exploring potential synergies in education, research, innovation and knowledge transfer, with particular attention to opportunities for concrete joint initiatives. With the ocean as a common link between Europe and Latin America, the encounter highlighted the potential of international university networks to address shared maritime challenges and strengthen cooperation between academic institutions and their surrounding territories.
The meeting marked an opportunity to deepen transatlantic connections, reinforcing SEA-EU’s commitment to international collaboration and opening new possibilities for future cooperation with Latin American universities.
