There is a long history of cooperation between researchers from Europe and NZ. A survey by the NZ Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (MoRST) in 2003 found that over half of all NZ based researchers have at least one significant, and active, European collaboration. However, this collaboration has traditionally been bilateral activity between NZ and the major research powerhouses of UK, Germany and France.

Evidence, through data on co-authoring of academic outputs, suggests that collaboration over the last decade between NZ and Europe has been increasing, though there is little understanding of the exact mechanisms of how this collaboration is supported, or initiated. With the signing of the STC Agreement between the European Community and the Government of NZ in July 2008, and establishment of formal bilateral planning activities through the JSTC meetings, there has been a renewed impetus for closer EU-NZ cooperation. It is clear, though, that, to date, the main focus of NZ government-supported joint science and technology activities has been on the participation of NZ researchers in European activities, namely the European Commission’s Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7). ACCESS4EU:NZ seeks to improve understanding and, if necessary, redress the balance in this relationship, by facilitating access and highlighting opportunities for European researchers to NZ’s research and innovation programmes.

ACCESS4EU:NZ seeks to establish a platform to increase the awareness and dissemination, within the Member States and Associated Countries, of opportunities for European researchers and research organisations to participate in New Zealand’s publicly-funded research and innovation programmes. The platform also aims to reduce or remove impediments to European researchers seeking to participate in NZ’s research and innovation programmes, through improving the provision of information on the opportunities available to Europe from NZ’s schemes, and the identification of prospective NZ partners with which European researchers could collaborate.

Sigma Orionis, part of the ACCESS4EU:NZ partnership, is in charge of:

• Present NZ’s programmes, and opportunities for collaboration (in the ICT field), to a wide audience of European researchers through various fora, including through the preparation of standard training materials for presentation to - and by - information multipliers and other relevant, interested parties.
• Bring European and NZ ICT researchers together, through workshops and networking events, in order that the personal relationships that underpin successful collaborations can be fostered.

ACCESS4EU:NZ Website
European Commission Website
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