The EULANEST project was realized under the European Unions’ 6th Framework Programme for Research and Development. The project aimed at promoting and coordinating co-operation in Science and Technology (S&T) between EU Member States (MS) and Latin American Countries (LA). The ERA-NET action fostered networking and co-operation of European policy-makers and programme managers involved in research cooperation with Latin America in relevant fields of science.

EULANEST supported its partners in the development and implementation of joint transnational research activities. Within the project cooperation activities in S&T between European EULANEST partners and LA countries were the mapping and benchmarking, identifying best practices and preparing base for a Joint Action Programme.

As final goal of EULANEST a Joint Call was launched by the European project partners in cooperation with institutions from two Latin American countries.

EULANEST defined as highlight the publication of a Joint Call to strengthen the development of sustainable joint research co-operation between European and Latin American institutions. The Joint Call was launched in contribution to strengthen research collaboration in the area of Sustainable Renewable Energy in the frame of climate change and Nanosciences with emphasis on human health. Proposals had to be submitted by mixed consortia including European and Latin American institutions.

The Joint Call was opened for submission from October to December 2009. After the evaluation and ranking of the proposals by scientific experts from all Joint Call partner countries, the projects to be funded were selected by the European and Latin American EULANEST partners in March 2010. The joint Kick-Off Meeting for the funded projects was held in June 2010 in Lisbon to start the successful realization of the planed activities.

The submission and evaluation was supported by a particular developed online tool process and organized and coordinated by a specially established Joint Call Secretariat.

Emphasis has to be put on the success of the Joint Call and the high interest on the part of the scientific community of both regions. There was a total of 65 submitted proposals, 39 in the area of Sustainable Renewable Energy and 26 in Nanosciences. The proposals and research teams were of high scientific excellence. Due to limited resources a total of 7 projects were selected to be funded. The compilation of the consortia of the selected projects represents well balanced institutions from all EULANEST partner countries.