Final Report Summary - SACCESS (Supporting the EU access to South Africa's research and innovation programmes) Executive summary: This ACCESS4EU project was aimed at enhancing the access opportunities, and hence the participation, of European Union (EU) Member Atates and associate countries, private and public research units in the national research and innovation programmes facilitated by South Africa. The project focused on the substantial collection of information regarding national research and innovation capacities and programmes within South Africa with the objective to disseminate that information to the widest possible number of researchers and other stakeholders, aiming at the creation of effective collaborations between the EU and the South Africa Research and development (R&D) communities. In addition the project contributed to the work programme of the Joint science and technology cooperation committee (JSTCC). The articulation of information with other ACCESS4EU was targeted with the aim of achieving greater dissemination of the knowledge on the existent participation opportunities at research and innovation programmes managed by South Africa, as well as to magnify the context and effect of the disseminated information. In conclusion, SACCESS managed to: - increase the participation of European stakeholders to South Africa's research and innovation programmes; - improve the prospects of research activities which are of international dimension and of mutual interest to Europe and South Africa. Project context and objectives: SACCESS (http://www.saccess-project.eu) is aimed at enhancing scientific cooperation between SA and the EU by identifying and promoting to EU researcher's research collaboration opportunities through South Africa's research and innovation programmes. From its conception and design, the work is split into three pillars. - The first pillar is concerned with the mapping of the existing opportunities for EU researchers which involves close cooperation with South Africa's programme owners. - The second pillar is concerned with the wide dissemination of such access opportunities to EU researchers. Effectively reaching out to EU researchers and informing them about the research and innovation collaboration opportunities that exist within programmes managed by South Africa. A series of tools for this purpose need to be in place especially with regards to the pan-European approach the project will follow to reach out to as many researchers as possible. - The third pillar is concerned with the collection of valuable information to contribute and further boost policy dialogue, and to add to the works of the African EU JSTCC with regards to facilitating reciprocity between Europe and South Africa. Project results: Since the beginning of the project a significant amount of the projects activities has been achieved. The first 18 months of the project were related mostly to the two first pillars. As such the efforts of the partners have been focused in identifying the programme owners on South Africa as well as trying to set up the tools which will assist with information dissemination within Europe with the aim of stimulating the interest of European researchers to take advantage of the existing South African research and innovation opportunities. More specifically, with regards to identifying the South African opportunities for research and innovation cooperation, an awareness raising session was delivered to the European project partners with the view of informing them about the innovation system, the structure of the research function, the administration of research grants, the latest funding innovation and research programmes, and the basics of the framework for SA-EU research collaboration. DST, along with IRD, have generated two reports which include very detailed information about the innovation landscape in South Africa, but most importantly about South African research and innovation opportunities. Such information did not exist in previous documents and a series of interviews needed to take place following the identification of suitable programme owners. The interviews carried out revealed quite some opportunities, especially in the form of fellowships, and gave a clear idea to all partners of the extent to which South African are open to European participation. Finally, templates were also devised, to allow for appropriate presentation of the data collected. Following the first successful 18 months of its duration, SACCESS not only has managed to maintain its robust performance, but has accelerated even further to secure high impact results. The second half of the project, which is chiefly the matter this report focuses on, was concerned with the dissemination of the research and innovation opportunities for cooperation through South African funded programmes to the European Union research community. The work undertaken is based entirely on the project's previous activities of identifying those research and innovation opportunities for cooperation. The dissemination activities were thoroughly planned from the very beginning of the project, and the partners had adequate experience and networks to satisfy the challenging role. Moreover, it should be noted that the partners of SACCESS went the extra mile by performing activities not necessarily agreed initially, but activities with increased importance that offered further visibility about the project and its objectives but most importantly offered enhanced awareness raising for research and innovation cooperation between EU and South African researchers. Potential impact: Before SACCESS little had been done to enforce the participation of European researchers to programmes managed by South Africa. The concept, and subsequently the structure of the SACCESS project, was based upon this identified need. Through SACCESS much has been achieved. This is a shared South African and European view as SACCESS managed to: - map the research and innovation capacity in South Africa; - map the available collaboration opportunities through South Africa's programmes; - create mechanisms to disseminate information on collaboration opportunities through South Africa's programmes; - identify problems related to European researchers participation, with the aim to plan initiatives to increase success rates. SACCESS focused on enhancing research collaboration by encouraging the participation of European researchers to South Africa's programmes, with the aim to identify Science and technology (S&T) activities of mutual interest. The main objective was thus, to provide a comprehensive mapping of the research and innovation capacity (identifying main organisations and their particular interests and activities), the existent collaboration opportunities and the barriers to access. Furthermore, to disseminate information to the relevant stakeholders within Europe and to act as a focal point of communication and promotion with regards to participation in South Africa's programmes. Lastly, to generate and provide feedback which will contribute to improved policy making in the field of enhancing Europe - South Africa cooperation. List of websites: http://www.saccess-project.eu Related documents Final Report - SACCESS (Supporting the EU access to South Africa's research and innovation programmes)
