2026 ACCESS Forum

When: 12 - 16 January 2026
Where: Concepción, Chile
Host: Universidad de Concepción

The Universidad de Concepción warmly welcomes you to the 2026 ACCESS Forum in Concepción, Chile.

From 12-16 January 2026, the ACCESS network will bring together Swedish and Chilean academics to connect, collaborate, share, and create knowledge at the 2026 Forum. During this week in Concepción, researchers from both countries will meet to discuss specific topics (Research Themes) related to one or more of the Forum’s SDGs.

Eligible participants include PhD students and early-career researchers as well as mid-career and senior researchers.

SDG Focus Areas

Each ACCESS Forum focuses on a select number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which provide the framework for the Forum Research Themes. The SDG-inspired Research Themes guide the discussions and collaborations among researchers before, during, and after the Forum.

The SDGs selected for the 2026 Forum are:

  • SDG #3: Good Health and Well-being

  • SDG #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • SDG #13: Climate Action

  • SDG #14: Life Below Water

  • SDG #15: Life on Land

Selected Research Themes

The ACCESS Forum Research Themes are collaborative, interdisciplinary workshops that bring together Chilean and Swedish researchers to tackle global challenges related to specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Throughout the Forum, researchers collaborate to develop innovative solutions that can make a positive impact on the areas they are studying.

The topics of these workshops (the Research Themes) are proposed by pairs of researchers and then selected by the ACCESS Steering Committee.

Attend the 2026 ACCESS Forum

PhDs, Postdocs, and researchers at all career levels (early, mid, senior) from ACCESS member universities* are encouraged to participate in the 2026 Forum from 12-16 January 2026 in Concepción, Chile.

  • Sunday (11 Jan): PhD event (registration required - details available in early 2025)

    Monday (12 Jan): Open Plenary; Research Theme workshops; Welcome Dinner

    Tuesday (13 Jan): Research Theme workshops; ACCESS Mingle

    Wednesday (14 Jan): Research Theme workshops

    Thursday (15 Jan): Research Theme workshops; Closing Plenary

    Friday (16 Jan): Excursion

  • PhDs, Postdocs, and researchers at all career levels (early, mid, senior) from ACCESS member universities* are encouraged to apply to participate in the 2026 Forum from 12-16 January 2026 in Concepción, Chile.

    A call for participants, including application instructions, important deadlines, and funding opportunities from ACCESS member universities will be available in early 2025.

  • The ACCESS Forum is open to researchers from all research fields.

    Participants can be senior researchers, early career researchers* and PhD-students.

    Participants who are currently employed at one of the 17 ACCESS universities are given priority.

    *An early career researcher has been awarded their PhD within the last 8 years.

  • 21 April 2025

    Due to space limitations, participation in the Forum is limited. Participation is therefore not guaranteed, even if you have your own funding source.

    There will be an internal selection process done by each university and the ACCESS Steering Committee, with feedback given from the PIs of the Research Themes. This selection process will take into account the applicant's motivation for participating in their selected Research Theme and their deemed relevance to the theme.

    The selection process will also attempt to ensure a diversification of participants in regards to gender balance, ACCESS-universities represented and a balanced number of PhD, young and experienced researchers.

    Selected participants will be informed of the decision in mid-late June 2025. 

  • ACCESS Forum Research Themes are unique, interdisciplinary workshops that aim to bring together researchers from a variety of disciplines in order to share knowledge related to the Research Theme and discuss challenges facing our world. As the participants come from a wide range of academic disciplines, you can expect to learn new perspectives and methods to tackle the challenges inherent in your Research Theme. At its core, ACCESS is aimed at building networks and connections between Sweden and Chile to support sustainability research to better our world.

    You should not expect an ACCESS Forum to mimic a normal academic conference, in which all participants are experts on a specific niche discipline. Instead, ACCESS intentionally breaks down the barriers to bring together perspectives across the academic sphere and spanning across continents. The goal is to create new interdisciplinary networks of researchers who can collaborate further after the Forum through shared research data, grant applications, joint coursework, university visits and more.

    All of our Research Themes are based in one or several of the SDG focus areas we have for the Forum 2024 which are: SDG 3, 11, 14, 15, and 16. Read more about these here.

*We are evaluating the possibility of expanding the 2026 ACCESS Forum to include PhDs and researchers from Chilean and Swedish universities not currently affiliated with an ACCESS member university. If we can accommodate additional participants, we'll announce it here. Please check back regularly during early 2025 for updates.

Chilean and Swedish government agencies, non-profits, or other organizations that are not current ACCESS partners, including universities that are not current ACCESS members, can learn more about ACCESS and potential participation in the 2026 Forum by contacting ACCESS@er.lu.se.

About the Host

A University Born from Community Aspiration

Founded in 1919, Universidad de Concepción (UdeC) stands as the first university in southern Chile, pioneered outside the capital, Santiago, to address the lack of higher educational institutions in the region. It is deeply rooted in its community and dedicated to fostering academic excellence through a broad spectrum of knowledge, arts, and cultural offerings.

Commitment to Excellence and Innovation

UdeC distinguishes itself by its commitment to academic freedom, international cooperation, and transparency. With 89 undergraduate and over 100 graduate programs across 20 faculties and three campuses, it serves more than 29,000 students. The university is a beacon of interdisciplinary research aimed at tackling global challenges, particularly those related to sustainability and gender equality.

A Hub of Cultural and Scientific Advancement

Recognized as one of Chile’s most prestigious universities, UdeC is a vital player in the fields of science, technology, and innovation. It supports numerous research initiatives at both individual and collaborative levels and has established various scientific and technological centers through local, national, and international partnerships.

Impact on Society

UdeC has cultivated a vast network of alumni whose influence permeates both local and national cultural landscapes, significantly contributing to the sustainable development and enrichment of society.

 

Questions? Contact us at ACCESS@er.lu.se