The discussion revolved around how to foster a fair and sustainable innovation ecosystem that would enable the region to play a relevant role in the global energy transition.

Among the main outcomes of the workshop was the need to understand the structure of the regional patent portfolio. The analysis presented showed that the predominant technologies in Latin America focus on high-pressure storage, cryogenics and, to a lesser extent, metal hydrides. In contrast, emerging technologies such as liquid organic hydrocarbon carriers (LOHC) and porous materials show incipient or no development in the region, which represents both a gap and a strategic opportunity for innovation.

The diagnosis identified significant disparities between countries. Brazil and Mexico account for nearly 90% of regional publications, driven by research and development programmes and the local presence of multinationals in the energy and automotive sectors. Argentina, with an early cycle of applications between 2000 and 2005, has shown a slowdown, while in Chile and Colombia, activity is mainly limited to extensions of foreign applications. This uneven distribution raises questions about domestic inventive capacity and the potential for regional coordination.

In terms of competition, it was highlighted that the high concentration of patents, particularly in the hands of foreign actors, can limit the development of local capacities and hinder the entry of new innovators. Potentially restrictive practices, such as global licensing of systems rather than specific parts, were also addressed. In response, regulatory, fiscal and collaborative mechanisms were proposed to stimulate competition and technology transfer under fair conditions.

SIPLA Participants:

Reto Hilty (SIPLA) – Múnich, Alemania

Pedro Batista (SIPLA) – Múnich, Alemania

Juan Ignacio Correa (SIPLA) – Buenos Aires, Argentina

Nicolás Martín Hermida (SIPLA) – Buenos Aires, Argentina

María Alejandra Echavarría Arcila (SIPLA - UPB) – Medellín, Colombia

External participants:

Diana Lawrence (Clúster de Energía Sostenible) – Medellín, Colombia

Idi Amin Isaac (Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana) – Medellín, Colombia

Marcelo Grabois (Itera) – Santa Fe, Argentina

Ramiro Picasso (Surcos S.A.) – Buenos Aires, Argentina

César Augusto Molina Saldarriaga (Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana) – Medellín, Colombia

Estela María Quintero Vallejo (Universidad CES) – Medellín, Colombia

Hilda María Palacio Betancur (Universidad CES) – Medellín, Colombia

Juan Martín Delgado Naranjo (Universidad CES) – Medellín, Colombia

Marta Luz Arango Uribe (Institución Universitaria ITM) – Medellín, Colombia

Harlem Acevedo Agudelo (Institución Universitaria ITM) – Medellín, Colombia