SYNTHESYS offers access to European Natural History museums.Twenty partner institutions from 12 European countries form SYNTHESYS, and offer coordinated access to their vast natural history collections and state-of-the art analytical facilities and qualified support from in-house researchers and curators. The institutions also co-operate in Network activities to improve the collections’ management, long-term preservation and accessibility. A Joint research activity develops tools to enhance the quality of and increase access to digitalized collections and data within Natural History institutions. SYNTHESYS was initiated by CETAF and receives funding by the European Union’s Research Framework Programs. It recently  secured EC funding for a third period (SYNTHESYS3 in FP7; Grant no. 312253), which started on 1st September 2013 and lasts for four years. Scientists in based in European member or associate states apply for grants covering research costs and subsistence at one or several partner institutions with a proposal that is assessed by a committee based on scientific quality.