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Research and innovation

Policy background

The general framework for European Union - Chile relations is set out in the  Advanced Framework Agreement, which covers trade, political dialogue and cooperation, human rights, climate change and the environment, as well as a renewed focus on science, technology, research and innovation.

Science and Technology Agreements and Arrangements

Chile and the EU signed an Agreement for Scientific and Technology Cooperation in September 2002, which entered into force in January 2007 and was most recently renewed by tacit agreement in January 2022 for another 5 years until 2027). The Agreement is overseen by a Joint Steering Committee which guides and designs the strategic orientations of the bilateral cooperation. 

Eureka: Chile is the only Latin American country (for the time being) to be associated to Eureka.  As such, it is entitled to lead and participate in Eureka programmes and projects, including in the Eurostars programme.

Copernicus: In 2018 the European Commission and Chile signed a Cooperation Arrangement concerning the Copernicus Earth Observation and Monitoring programme. Under this Arrangement, Chile contributes to the Copernicus ecosystem with in-situ data from regional observatory networks and the European Commission provides Chile with open and free access to the data from the Copernicus Sentinel satellites.  The University of Chile manages the Copernicus Data Repository. Additionally, the European Commission (through DG International Partnerships) is financing the regional Copernicus Data Centre in Santiago, which will become the Copernicus data repository for Chile and Latin America and the Caribbean, contributing significantly to the region’s capacities to address climate change and environmental concerns.

Areas of Cooperation

At the 9th EU-Chile Joint Steering Committee meeting in December 2021, the following areas of mutual interest for continued and future collaboration were highlighted:  

  • Health: notably cooperation on Cancer and exploring opportunities to enhance interactions in multilateral platforms (such as the Joint Programme on Antimicrobial Resistance; the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness; and the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases).
  • Energy: Stronger engagement in multilateral initiatives such as Mission Innovation (MI). In particular, on Green Hydrogen. The EU and Chile co-lead the MI Mission on Clean Hydrogen (together with Australia, the UK and the US,) which aims to increase the cost-competitiveness of clean hydrogen. Bilateral cooperation on hydrogen underpinned by the Team Europe initiative on Green Hydrogen cooperation with Chile, including the  two further initiatives, launched on 14 July 2023 by President Von der Leyen and President Boric, under the Global Gateway Investment Agenda to support the renewable hydrogen industry in Chile.
  • Climate-neutral, sustainable and inclusive cities, bio-economy, sustainable mining and sustainable raw materials (including in the context of the EU-Chile Partnership on Sustainable Raw Materials Value Chains).
  • Open Science and gender equality. In this regard, Chile co-organised the Workshops on Gender Equality and Inclusiveness and on Open Science, under the Multi-Lateral Dialogue on Values and Principles) in April 2023.
  • Explore opportunities for more substantial cooperation in the areas of ocean and arctic research as well as  the new avenues for digital cooperation opened up by the completion of the EllaLink transatlantic cable, and the BELLA programme.

In the multilateral context of the EU-CELAC Strategic Roadmap on Science, Technology and Innovation, Chile and the EU will continue to collaborate on 4 main lines of cooperation: (i) global challenges, (ii) mobility of researchers, (iii) research infrastructures and (iv) innovation.

Chile hosts the European Southern Observatory (ESO), a 16-nation intergovernmental research organisation for ground-based astronomy, with state-of-the-art research facilities in the Atacama desert.

Cooperation and funding opportunities

In principle*, the EU does not provide funding for the participation of Chilean research entities in collaborative research projects, so Chilean researchers are expected to bring their own funding to the table.

*In exceptional cases, the Commission or the relevant funding body may consider that funding the participation of a legal entity is essential for implementing the action (Article 23.2(b) of the Horizon Europe Regulation)

Chilean entities are eligible for EU funding through the European Research Council and Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions:

European Research Council

The European Research Council offers grants to researchers in all research domains for frontier research. Chilean researchers are welcome to apply and if selected are eligible for funding to establish a research group in Europe. Grants are available for researchers starting or consolidating their independent career and for advanced researchers. Synergy grants are also available, where a group of 2-4 Principal Investigators (PIs) may include one PI outside the EU or countries associated to Horizon Europe, to tackle together an ambitious research problem, with all funded by the ERC.

Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions

Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions offer fellowships for post-doctoral researchers from Chile (and other countries) to spend up to 2 years in a European group – or for European researchers to spend up to 2 years in a Chilean lab. Also offers opportunities for Chilean institutions to participate in Doctoral Training Networks and Staff Exchange consortia (Chilean institutions are self-funded in DTNs and SE).

Projects and results

EU-funded research projects involving Chile

You can also visit the Horizon Dashboard, which is a one-stop shop for data and statistics on the EU Research and Innovation Programmes – from FP1 to Horizon Europe. 

Contact

National Contact Points

National Contact Points (NCPs) provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe.

Research enquiry service

Contact the research enquiry service to find out more about research in Europe, the EU's research and innovation funding programmes as well as calls for proposals and project funding.

European Commission

RTD-F-DIR-ASSISTatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (DG Research and Innovation International Cooperation)

EURAXESS LAC

Euraxess LAC provides access to a complete range of information and support services for researchers in Latin American and Caribbean countries wishing to pursue a research career in Europe or looking for collaboration opportunities through Horizon Europe.

EU Delegation

delegation-chile-eccoateeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (EU Delegation in Santiago de Chile)

Documents

9 NOVEMBER 2023
9th EU-Chile Joint Steering Committee meeting 
English
(165.81 KB - PDF)
Download

 

2 FEBRUARY 2017
Joint communiqué of the 8th Joint Steering Committee meeting of the EU-Chile Bilateral Science and Technology Agreement
English
(109.33 KB - PDF)
Download

 

15 JUNE 2009
Scientific and Technological Cooperation between EC and Chile Roadmap 2010 - 2011
English
(226.04 KB - PDF)
Download

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