The “South Meets North” Summit, organized by the Global Trade and Innovation Policy Alliance (GTIPA), took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, bringing together leading thinkers and policymakers from over 50 think tanks across 30 countries. This year’s theme, “Global Innovation Systems and Policies,” focused on bold ideas for fostering innovation, trade, and economic transformation.
Representing North Macedonia, CRPM’s Executive Directress Marija Risteska joined the discussions that explored how smart deregulation and innovation policies can drive technological development and sustainable growth.
The program had a distinctly local flavor, with participants visiting two of Argentina’s fintech success stories, Mercado Libre and Globant. Mercado Libre, the largest e-commerce, financial services, and logistics company in Latin America, demonstrated how digital solutions can empower individuals and businesses, creating opportunities and contributing to economic growth. Globant, a digital-native technology company, showcased its innovative approaches to reshaping industries and societies.
Panel discussions throughout the summit were equally inspiring. The opening debate tackled the so-called “Brussels Effect”—how EU regulations like GDPR and AI policy frameworks shape, and sometimes stifle, innovation. Participants reflected on competitiveness policies for digital businesses, evidence-based labor protections for gig workers, and the future of AI governance. Particularly engaging was a session moderated by Stefano da Empoli, where the GTIPA Compendium on Innovation Regulation was presented, alongside experiences from Chile on how “smart regulation” can enhance consumer choice and spur innovation.
Speakers from across the globe contributed diverse perspectives. Natalia Gonzales of Consejo de Transparencia highlighted how Chile is balancing consumer freedom with regulatory frameworks. John Paolo Rivera of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies emphasized the importance of infrastructure development as a foundation for effective innovation policy. From Europe, Malgorzata Bonikowska of THINK TANK Poland shared lessons on Poland’s transformation, noting how entrepreneurial energy propelled the country into the world’s top 20 economies—thanks in part to a regulatory environment that initially encouraged innovation, but later faced challenges with EU integration.
Reflecting on the summit, Marija Risteska said: “This gathering was an opportunity not only to learn from global experiences but also to share perspectives from North Macedonia on how innovation can be nurtured through smart regulation. For CRPM, engaging in these conversations is crucial to ensuring that our policies are aligned with the demands of a rapidly changing digital economy.”
The summit concluded with a set of forward-looking recommendations: the need to continuously monitor regulatory liberalization, ensure that education systems are ready for digitalization, and equip people with the skills required to fully harness AI and other emerging technologies.
Organized by GTIPA, Fundación BASES, We Are Innovation, and ESEADE, the “South Meets North” Summit once again proved to be a unique space where global perspectives meet local experiences—offering fresh insights into how innovation policy can shape our shared future.
