The project

PACE-Net is a three-year coordination action, supported by Seventh Framework Program for Research and Technological Development of the European Commission. The main goals of PACE-Net are to:
*    strengthen bi-regional dialogue and planning on Science and Technology between Europe and the Pacific on global and regional priorities of mutual importance;
*    identify research partnership projects that will address those priorities; and
*    raise awareness of the critical importance of the Pacific region to global sustainability and the vulnerability of its island countries.

Project Summary

The Pacific-EU network for Science and Technology (S&T) establishes a bi-regional dialogue platform on S&T between the EU and the 15 member countries of the Africa Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Group of the Pacific region, namely, Cook Islands, Federate States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Solomon Islands, East Timor, Tonga, Tuvalu, Samoa and Vanuatu. The PACE-Net project also closely involves the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) in the Pacific region (French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, Pitcairn) while Australia and New Zealand bring to PACE-Net project their long-standing expertise in the Pacific. PACE-Net pursues the following objectives:

- Reinforce existing S&T dialogues and networks and promote regional integration for those networks. PACE-Net seeks to increase the cooperation between research organisations and universities in the region;

- Identify S&T international cooperation activities and programmes in the Pacific region. PACE-Net sets up dialogue fora bringing together the relevant S&T experts and stakeholders to establish the priority areas for FP7, including SICAs;

- Strengthen the coordination of S&T cooperation and the complementarities with activities and programs carried out by other European instruments. PACE-Net will examine possible synergies or complementarities with EU activities, especially with respect to challenges faced by developing countries. In particular, synergies with the European Development Fund shall be found.

Project pillars

Activities held in PACE-Net are implemented in parallel Work packages as follows:

WP1 Situational analysis: to identify and analyse the major research activities, capacities and partners in the region in order to inform INCO-Net development and implementation

WP2 Linking Science and Technology to Pacific development goals and needs: to identify the agreed science focal areas that support regional development goals, for ongoing collaboration between the European Union (EU) and the Pacific and to facilitate sustainable EU collaborations that support Pacific Science and Technology capacity to respond to development needs

WP3 Pacific EU Dialogue and Supporting Platforms : to provide a secretariat for the bi-regional policy dialogue platform dedicated to organising and executing the meetings that will be open to stakeholders including, for example, the EU-Commission, all EU-MS, Associated States, the Pacific Region including Australia and New Zealand as well as stakeholders from national and multi-lateral organisations

WP4 EU/Pacific S&T cooperation platforms: capacity building and partnership: to enhance EU linkages with regional researchers and institutions in order to drive Pacific research agendas and to enhance capacity of Pacific researchers and institutions to participate actively in FP7 research opportunities

WP5 Dissemination, Knowledge Management and Outreach: PACE-Net will sustain a strong outreach component so as to ensure the appropriate visibility and to reach key stakeholders

WP6 Management: to provide support to the project and dialogue processes and install the necessary structure for the good-development of the project, including decision making processes, implementation of the Work packages, monitoring the deliverables, financial management and communication with the EC

Partnership and Consortium

The PACE-Net consortium is composed of a nucleus of partners of most representative institutions involved in S&T in the region and working in close cooperation with local institutions and governments (see "Partners" tab in the menu). The ANU, UPNG and USP are partners in the PACE-Net Consortium.