Internationalization as A Strategy to Strengthen the University Innovation Ecosystem in Latin America

Strengthening university innovation ecosystems is a strategic priority for advancing scientific, technological, and economic development. Within this framework, internationalization emerges as a key driver to expand institutional impact by fostering global academic collaboration, international mobility, and cross-border technology transfer. This paper explores the role of internationalization as a catalyst for enhancing innovation capabilities in Latin American universities. Through a comprehensive literature review and the analysis of representative case studies, the research identifies successful practices, common barriers, and potential pathways for integrating into global knowledge networks. A structured model is proposed, combining indicators of internationalization and innovation, university-industry linkage strategies, and mechanisms for scaling academic startups into international markets. Furthermore, the study assesses the impact of international engagement on advanced knowledge production, the attraction of foreign investment, and the commercialization of university-generated technologies, underscoring its contribution to the global competitiveness of higher education institutions.