The South American Network of Applied Economics (Sur Network) is an academic research network formed 20 years ago by public and private universities, and knowledge production centers in the region (full members and associated institutions). 

The Network's mission is to contribute to regional socio-economic analysis and debate by identifying responses to development challenges, understanding global dynamics and analyzing lessons learned from other experiences and countries. In this way, the aim is to generate useful knowledge to address policy priorities in the face of the challenge of inclusive and sustainable growth in South America. 

On this basis, Red Sur promotes, coordinates and develops research projects from an independent perspective and based on rigorous methodologies that allow a regional vision of the problems faced by the countries of South America. 

The Southern Network, originally “Red Mercosur”, was founded in 1998 based on the initiative of several researchers in the region. Since its inception it has been supported by the International Development Research Center (IDRC-IDRC) of Canada. The execution of the Network's projects is managed by the Mercosur Network Foundation for Economic Research based in the Mercosur Building (Montevideo, Uruguay). 

At present, the Red Sur is a space where its members promote various initiatives that are articulated around 4 research programs:

Program 1: Natural resources, inclusive growth and employment.

Program 2: The new global scenario and the South American macroeconomic agenda.

Program 3: Integration, trade and value chains.

Program 4: Productivity, business development and innovation. 

The South Network has been related to various key development actors in the region, highlighting the link with public sector actors (national, regional or international organizations) as well as with the direct beneficiaries of its research, in alliance with other academic and research institutions. civil society. In recent years, the research agenda on issues of value chains, productivity, business development and innovation has allowed a greater approach to the private sector, which has actively participated not only as an information provider, but also in debate tables held to present and discuss findings from research activities.

The Network is committed to total transparency and free access to its publications. Consequently, it disseminates all its publications online and free of charge in various formats (Books, Working Documents, Policy Briefs and opinion articles, as well as Power Points of all the meetings it organizes).