LAC-ACCESS central objective is 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 is 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-ACCESS will support the opening up of the European Research Area to Latin America and the Caribbean through
· a mapping exercise of high-quality research organisations in LAC in relevant fields of co-operation in the 7th European Framework Programme for RTD
· a Small Conference Grant Scheme for LAC researchers to support a direct face-toface linkage with European researchers and institutions
· tailor-made training sessions on FP7 participation for researchers from LAC and Europe and the production of practical training materials
· providing sustainability by preparing the establishment of a LAC Liaison Office in Brussels
· various dissemination activities to raise awareness, such as a trilingual information flyer, a brochure on high-quality LAC research organisations, an electronic newsletter and a website.
LAC-ACCESS will be carried out by a consortium of four institutions with long-lasting experience in co-operation between EU and LAC and the management of EU Framework Programmes and S&T policy implementation: the Austrian Latin America Institute (LAI), 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, and the Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI), Vienna. To ensure the projects relevance on the S&T policy level, the consortium is supported by a Steering Committee consisting of members of S&T governmental institutions from LAC countries.
