The Liaison Office settled in CONICYT's International Relations Department in 2005 with the mission of increasing Chilena participation in European research projects. It is also the focal point of the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement between Chile and the European Union, signed in 2002.
CONICYT, through its Liaison Office, is currently participating in four projects of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7): four multilateral projects (EULARINET, Biocircle 2, AMERICAS and ALCUE-Net) and two bilateral projects (CHIEP II and CEST+I).
CHIEP II (Strenthening Chilean-European S&T Partnerships) is a project that intends to strengthen cooperation in science and technology between Chile and the European Union. The CHIEP-II project, continuation of the CHIEP-I project –funded by the European Commission’s Sixth Framework Programme (FP6)–, is currently ongoing. CHIEP-II is also funded by the European Commission -through its FP7-, and by CONICYT.
EULARINET (European Union - Latin American Research and Innovation NETworks) is a four-year project with the purpose of strengthening bi-regional dialogue in science and technology between Member States of the European Union (Austria, France, Finland, Germany, Portugal and Spain), Associate States (Norway) and Latin American States (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Nicaragua and Uruguay). This includes promoting the participation of Latin American researchers in FP7, carrying out forums for policy dialogue between both regions and jointly developing FP7 work programmes.
Biocircle 2 (Reinforcing the international cooperation in FP7 FAFB - strengthening the circle of Third Countries BIO NCPs) aims to increase participation of researchers from regions other than Europe in research projects in the area of Food, Agriculture & Fisheries and Biotechnology of the FP7. BIOCIRCLE partners are the FP7’s National Contact Points (NCP) in 18 different countries outside Europe, and in 5 countries in Europe.
AMERICAS: Latin America - Europe ICT Cooperation Advanced Strategies (International Partnership building and support to dialogues) aims to support policy dialogue between Latin America and the European Union on ICTs, creating better oportunities of bi-regional cooperation and fostering the participation of Latin American researchers 7FP's ICTs projects. The project is aimed at policy makers, researchers, and ICTs stakeholders.
CEST+I (Chile-European Union STI Initiative) CEST+I (2013-2015) seeks to support the enhancement of science, technology and innovation cooperation between the European Union, member states, associated countries and Chile. The project thereby contributes to the implementation of the Joint Initiative for Research and Innovation (JIRI) between Latin America and the Caribbean and the European Union. The specific objectives are to jointly tackle societal challenges, promote the creation of networks and joint research projects, as well as dissemination of the opportunities of cooperation between Chile and the EU. The project addresses high quality food, climate change and energy as common societal challenges horizontally in four thematic pillars: political dialogue, networking between European and Chilean researchers, innovation and dissemination of the Framework Programmes. CEST+I stimulates joint strategic agendas and coordination of policies not only for the S&T Cooperation Agreement but also for the bilateral and regional initiatives. Likewise, the project enables the development of new partnerships and collaborative programmes by creating networks between Chilean and European researchers, as well as aiming at a large impact in the Chilean scientific community through training of stakeholders and researchers in areas such as IPR, patenting and funding opportunities.
ALCUE NET (Latin America, Caribbean and European Union Network on Research and Innovation) ALCUE-Net (2013-2016) aims at supporting the international Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy Dialogue between Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union. It does so by promoting bi-regional partnerships for joint societal challenges. ALCUE-Net directly supports the Joint Initiative for Research and Innovation (JIRI) through cross-cutting thematic actions in energy, biodiversity, ICT and bioeconomy, as well as specific activities enhancing the EU and LAC networks of National Contact Points. In addition, it works to reinforce the external dimension of the European Research Area (ERA) to enhance the cooperation of EU Member States and Associated Countries with third countries in the Framework Programme. It will also contribute to the implementation of the Strategic European Framework for International STI Cooperation and of the initiatives of the Strategic Forum for International Cooperation (SFIC).
