CISTRANA aims to offer a gateway to European and national R & D policies, programmes and projects. Such information is widely sought by European policy makers, programme managers, researchers, and industrial actors, but availability and access to information sources often proves to be problematic. The structure and format of such information, the content of relevant documents and their language varies from country to country and such factors are barriers to access, which delay and inhibit the flow of information.

By overcoming these barriers CISTRANA aims to facilitate access to such information throughout Europe and enable its R & D communities to exchange strategies, ideas and results with ease. By supporting the dialogue among European actors CISTRANA hopes to facilitate the coordination and cooperation of national and European programmes and contribute to building the European Research Area in IST.

CISTRANA is gathering news and information on national policies, programmes, calls for proposals and projects and is presenting this information in a structured format via its portal. CISTRANA is also performing analyses and presenting its finding and recommendations in studies and workshops.

The key basis of these activities is ensuring that information is collected, analysed and presented in a timely and reliable manner.  In this process CISTRANA is relying on the valuable assistance and local expertise offered by its Steering Committee members and National Support Organisations who represent the majority of EU member states.

CISTRANA would like to express its appreciation for the vital support and dedication offered by its National Support Organisations in this process.