INPACE's first year laid strong foundations for future technology-policy convergence, building trust and networks essential for meaningful contribution to the digital partnerships between Europe and Indo-Pacific countries. While it is still early to measure the full impact, the INPACE consortium identified pivotal accomplishments during its initial year:
1. Building networks: INPACE launched the INPACE Hub and connected 80+ experts across Europe and the Indo-Pacific, fostering collaboration in AI, 6G, cybersecurity, digital policy and other domains. These networks support long-term cross-regional cooperation and innovation
2. Capacity building and knowledge sharing: INPACE organised the first International Symposium on Digital Technologies and Policies, 45+ activities on TWGs level, developed a knowledge database helping to reinforce scientific capacity and meaningful dialogue, enabling long-term cooperation and shared learning
3. Policy-Technology integration: By bridging policymakers and technical experts, INPACE created structured pathways for collaboration, ensuring regulatory and technological alignment
4. Bridging regional differences: INPACE developed a comprehensive understanding of research and innovation landscapes in different regions, including priorities, approaches, and potential for international digital collaboration, reducing barriers and strengthening digital partnerships
5. Contribution to DPs related to specific countries, especially for Japan and Republic of Korea (policy brief EU-ROK, preparation of EU-Japan Digital Week)
These first-year achievements should be viewed as foundation-building rather than final outcomes. Key needs to ensure future uptake and success include:
1. Supporting dialogue into action, helping to forge DPs EU-Indo-Pacific from bottom-up: establishing bridges between industry players, researchers, policy makers, other stakeholders, aligning with international initiatives, advancing on pilot projects, contributing to policies or standards
2. Extending sustainable expert communities (bottom-up): ensuring the engagement of the experts, with balanced representation, promotion of the interdisciplinary collaboration, and ensuring network longevity
3. Maximising knowledge exchange and community interaction: reinforcing policy-technology convergence, development of the accessible knowledge-sharing frameworks, tracking measurable outcomes
