MINISTERIO DE EDUCACION Y CULTURA

Their core work

Uruguay's Ministry of Education and Culture serves as a national policy authority for science, education, and cultural affairs in South America. Within H2020, it acts as a government-level gateway for EU-Latin America research cooperation, contributing policy perspective and institutional access to projects spanning citizen science, research infrastructure bridging, and urban sustainability. Its role centers on enabling international dialogue between European and Latin American research communities, and on translating scientific outputs into public policy frameworks.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the earlier phase (2018), the Ministry focused on research network capacity building and mobility support through MSCA NCP activities and urban sustainability pilots. By 2019-2021, the focus shifted decisively toward science diplomacy, EU-CELAC political dialogue on research infrastructures, and democratic engagement with science. This trajectory reflects a ministry moving from operational networking tasks toward strategic science-policy positioning at the international level.

The Ministry is moving toward science-society governance and EU-Latin America science diplomacy, making it a valuable institutional anchor for future projects requiring government-level engagement in the LAC region.

How they like to work

The Ministry participates exclusively as a partner, never as coordinator — consistent with its role as a non-EU government body contributing institutional legitimacy and regional access rather than project management. With 83 unique partners across 35 countries from just 4 projects, it operates in large, diverse consortia typical of Coordination and Support Actions. This profile suggests an organization that brings political and institutional weight rather than technical deliverables.

Despite only 4 projects, the Ministry has built connections with 83 partners across 35 countries, reflecting participation in large international consortia with strong geographic diversity spanning Europe, Latin America, and beyond.

What sets them apart

As a national ministry from Uruguay, this organization offers something most EU partners cannot: direct government-level access to Latin American research ecosystems and policy channels. For any consortium seeking genuine EU-LAC cooperation — not just token participation — having a sitting ministry as partner provides institutional credibility that universities or NGOs cannot match. They are one of very few South American public authorities active in H2020.

Highlights from their portfolio

• EU-LAC ResInfra
  Directly addressed EU-CELAC research infrastructure cooperation and political dialogue, positioning the Ministry at the center of transatlantic science diplomacy.
• ISEED
  Explored the intersection of citizen science and democratic governance — an unusual and timely topic for a government ministry, bridging policy with public engagement.
• EdiCitNet
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 108,219) and brought Montevideo into a European urban sustainability network as a non-EU demonstration city.