Analysing and supporting EU-LAC cooperation in S&T

LAC-ACCESS central objective was to bridge high-quality research organisations in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) with those of the European Union, focusing in particular on the upcoming 7th European Framework Programme for RTD. The project was a direct outcome of the Senior Officials Meeting on EU-LAC RTD Co-operation held under the auspices of the Austrian EU-Council Presidency in Salzburg on 1-3 February 2006, preceding the Fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the EU and LAC.

LAC-ACCESSS supported the opening-up of the European Research Area to Latin America and the Caribbean through

1. the promotion of high-quality research organisations in LAC in relevant fields of co-operation in the 7th European Framework Programme for RTD
2. a Small Conference Grant Scheme for LAC researchers to support a direct face-to-face linkage with European researchers and institutions
3. providing sustainability by preparing the establishment of a LAC Liaison Office in Brussels
4. various dissemination activities to raise awareness, such as a trilingual information flyer, a directory on high-quality LAC research organisations, tailor made training materials on FP7, an electronic newsletter and a website LAC-ACCESS is carried out by a consortium of four partners that have long-lasting experience in issues related to the co-operation between EU and LAC and the management of EU Framework Programmes and S&T policy implementation.

To ensure the project's relevance on the S&T policy level, the consortium was supported by a Steering Committee consisting of members of S&T governmental institutions from LAC countries.

Impact: The project was succeeded by several other projects and publications which related to the cooperation between the EU and Latin America - see here.

Team:

• Dirk Johann (project leader)
• Dipl.Ing. Jana Machacova

Section: Research Policy & Development

Partners:

• Austrian Latin America Institute (Coordinator)
• Centre for the study of relations between the European Union and Latin America
• Latin American Centre for Relations with Europe
• The Austrian Latin America Institute - LAI (Co-ordination), Vienna ; The Centre for Social Innovation - ZSI, Vienna ; The Latin American Centre for Relations with Europe - CELARE, Santiago de Chile ; The Centre for the Study of European and Latin American Relations - CERCAL, Brussels

Related Articles:

• Publication: LAC-ACCESS Thematic Report on Agricultural Research
• Publication: LAC-ACCESS Thematic Report on ICT
• News: EU-Latin America & Caribbean cooperation is taken to the next level
• Project: ALCUE NET
• News: EULAC Focus kicks off in Madrid
• Publication: Report on impact dimensions of the bi-regional cooperation with outlook on impact and outreach of ALCUE NET

Tags: Latin America, research and innovation policy, research cooperation