Understanding the ACCESS Research Framework

The ACCESS Forum is not a traditional conference; it is a strategic engine for joint knowledge production. To ensure our research translates into real-world impact, we utilize a dual-layered framework: Focus Areas and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

What are Focus Areas?

 

Focus Areas are the "heart" of the ACCESS Forum. While the SDGs provide a broad global direction, our Focus Areas provide the context-specific bridge needed to address challenges unique to Chile and Sweden.

The Focus Areas are designed to be intentionally inclusive. By embedding a “human” element—such as governance, ethics, and societal impact—into every category, we ensure that social sciences, humanities, and arts are not just additions, but integral to the research alongside natrual/hard sciences and technical fields.

When drafting your Research Theme (RT) proposal, you must align your workshop with one of the following areas:

  • This area examines the structural foundations of human communities and the governance systems that support them. It focuses on the stability and longevity of social frameworks, exploring how institutions can adapt to modern pressures while maintaining social cohesion, equity, and the delivery of essential public functions.

    Examples: Democracy, migration, urbanization, crime, affordable housing, urban health, and digital public services.

  • This focus area analyzes the complex interactions within Earth’s natural systems and the subsequent necessity for human adjustment. It addresses the scientific and strategic responses to shifting environmental realities, emphasizing the mitigation of ecological risks and the development of strategies to survive and thrive within a changing global climate.

    Examples: Climate governance, resource diplomacy, water security and adaptive infrastructure, biodiversity loss and responsible consumption, soil health and sustainable food systems, psychological impacts of climate anxiety, and natural disasters/land-use change.

  • This theme explores the intersection of technological advancement and the human experience. It investigates how the rapid integration of digital tools and virtual environments reshapes individual behavior, societal norms, and ethical standards, ensuring that the evolution of technology remains aligned with human rights and well-being.

    Examples: Automation, misinformation/disinformation, privacy/human rights, digital culture and arts, mental health, cybersecurity, the future of work and education, and digital inclusion.

  • This area focuses on the lifecycle of essential raw materials required for modern technology and energy. It addresses the geopolitical, economic, and social consequences of extracting these resources, seeking a balance between the global demand for minerals and the need for ethical, low-impact industrial practices.

    Examples: Green transition, the future of mining, and the consequences of sourcing industries on local communities (such as indigenous populations).

  • This focus area is dedicated to the biological and medical advancements that sustain human life. It covers the spectrum of scientific inquiry into the human body, from molecular biology to broad population health strategies, aiming to improve longevity, quality of life, and the efficacy of medical interventions.

    Examples: Personalized medicine, public health, and ageing.

  • A unique theme chosen by the host university (University of Gothenburg) to highlight a specific emerging challenge or local expertise.

    Specific Focus Area coming soon!

IMPORTANT: The examples listed above are intended to spark inspiration, not to limit your reach.

While we have highlighted specific themes, this is not an exhaustive list. We are eager to see any proposal that addresses shared challenges between Chile and Sweden and falls within our core Focus Areas.

We believe that solving complex global challenges requires more than just technical solutions. Interdisciplinarity is at the heart of this initiative. We, therefore, strongly encourage scholars from all fields—including the social sciences, humanities, and the arts—to propose a Research Theme for the upcoming ACCESS Forum..

 
 

The Relationship Between Focus Areas and SDGs

 

Unlike previous years, we have opened the framework to all 17 SDGs. This allows for a more authentic connection; you are no longer forced to "fit" your research into a limited list. Instead, you will be asked to motivate why your chosen SDGs are the right fit for your specific theme.

In your application, you will lead with a Focus Area as your primary research pillar. However, to ensure global alignment, you must also map your Research Theme to the SDGs.

Application Process

  1. Focus Areas (The Foundation): You select one of the six Focus Areas. This defines the scope of your workshop and ensures the theme is relevant to the Chile-Sweden binational context.

  2. SDGs (The Global Alignment): Within your chosen Focus Area, you will select up to three SDGs that directly relate to your research.

Mandatory Interdisciplinary Requirement

To ensure high-impact findings, all Research Themes must be interdisciplinary. Your proposal must demonstrate a requirement for input from at least two distinct disciplinary categories (e.g., combining natural/hard sciences with social sciences, humanities, and/or arts fields). Solutions developed in isolation cannot solve complex societal challenges; the ACCESS Forum is where those silos are broken down.

Ready to propose a Research Theme for the 2027 ACCESS Forum?

Apply Here