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?

At the ACCESS Forum, each workshop centers on a specific Research Theme, which serves as a dedicated, interdisciplinary workspace where Chilean and Swedish researchers collaborate over four days to transform shared scientific and societal challenges into long-term partnerships. To ensure these workshops address the most pressing needs, they are organized into several Focus Areas that facilitate multidimensional inquiry. Rather than viewing these domains through a narrow technical lens, we recognize that social, ethical, and institutional frameworks—including governance, policy, and societal impact—are foundational to any real-world challenge.

This approach ensures that the Research Themes emerging within these areas are inherently interdisciplinary, allowing research outputs to address these themes through diverse scholarly lenses—whether the work emphasizes technological innovation, structural and policy shifts, or cultural and normative narratives.

You can find a brief description of each Focus Area, including example areas*, below:

 

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

    Some examples: democratic resilience, migration and social integration, sustainable urbanization, crime and public safety, affordable housing, etc.

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

    Some examples: polar areas, climate governance and environmental law, resource diplomacy, water security and rights, adaptive infrastructure, biodiversity loss, responsible consumption, soil health and sustainable food systems, natural disasters and land-use change, and the psychological and cultural impacts of environmental change, etc.

  • This area explores the profound intersection of technological advancement and the human experience. It investigates how the pervasive integration of digital tools, virtual environments, and automated systems reshapes behavior, societal norms, and the very fabric of human interaction. Research in this area seeks to understand the diverse dimensions of our digital evolution, examining how technological shifts influence individual well-being, institutional structures, and ethical standards. This area provides a platform to analyze the opportunities and risks inherent in our increasingly digitized world.

    Some examples: automation, misinformation/disinformation, privacy/human rights, digital culture and arts, mental health, cybersecurity, the future of work and education, digital inclusion, the digitalization of public services, etc.

  • This area focuses on the lifecycle of essential raw materials required for the global energy transition and the broader pursuit of technological sustainability. It addresses the multi-layered consequences of mineral extraction, seeking to balance global industrial demand with the requirement for ethical, low-impact practices. Research in this area investigates the geopolitical, economic, and environmental dimensions of resource management, exploring how the sourcing of critical minerals impacts both global stability and the specific rights and livelihoods of local communities. This area examines the pathways toward a truly circular and responsible resource economy.

    Some examples: green transition, the future of mining, and the consequences of sourcing industries on local communities (such as indigenous populations), etc.

  • This area is dedicated to the biological, medical, and societal advancements that sustain and improve human life. It encompasses the full spectrum of inquiry—from molecular research and medical innovation to the structural challenges of public health and population well-being. Research in this area investigates the evolving landscape of healthcare delivery, exploring how scientific breakthroughs and institutional frameworks intersect to address global health equity, longevity, and the ethical dimensions of care. By integrating the life sciences with social and systemic analysis, this area seeks to develop comprehensive strategies for resilient health systems and a higher quality of life across the lifespan.

    Some examples: personalized medicine and genomics, public health infrastructure, health equity, the societal challenges of ageing populations, medical ethics in emerging biotechnologies, the philosophy of care in modern healthcare systems, etc.

  • This area explores the vital role of the ocean for the global climate, economic stability, and cultural identity. It investigates the complex interactions between marine ecosystems and human activity, addressing the challenges of sustainable governance in an era of environmental as well as geopolitical change. Research in this area examines the sea as both a shared resource and a vulnerable frontier, exploring how institutional frameworks, technological and biological innovations, as well as societal norms intersect to manage maritime spaces. This area provides a platform to analyze the sustainable use of marine resources and the resilience of the communities that depend on them. It also includes polar area research such as ice–ocean interactions and the historical, societal, and governance dimensions of polar regions.

    Some examples: marine and polar ecosystems, biodiversity and conservation, sustainable utilization of marine bioresources, increased preparedness and food security, maritime law and territoriality, ocean justice, coastal resilience and sea-level rise, maritime heritage and coastal cultures, and the impact of ocean health on human well-being, polar climate systems and carbon cycles, governance of polar regions, the societal and cultural dimensions of polar research, etc.

*The examples listed above are intended to spark inspiration, not limit imagination. 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 one of the 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

 

The Focus Areas listed above serve as the primary operational framework for our Forum workshops, providing the context-specific bridge needed to address challenges unique to Chile and Sweden. While these areas define the practical scope of our collaboration, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) define the ultimate impact and global relevance of the research themes.

For example, in the 2027 Forum Call for Research Themes, applicants must first select one Focus Area that defines the scope of the proposed Research Theme. Then, they will select up to 3 SDGs that directly relate to the proposed topic.

Mandatory Interdisciplinary Requirement

To ensure high-impact findings, all Research Themes are built on an inherently interdisciplinary foundation. Every theme is structured to require meaningful input from at least two distinct disciplinary categories—typically bridging the natural and technical sciences with the social sciences, humanities, and arts.

This requirement reflects the Forum’s core mission: breaking down academic silos to address complex societal challenges that cannot be solved in isolation. By integrating technical innovation with societal, ethical, and cultural insights, ACCESS Research Themes create a holistic framework for binational problem-solving.