Abstract

The Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (IAS) is a leading research centre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) specialising in sustainable agriculture in arid and semi-arid climates, particularly in Mediterranean regions. With a research focus on food production balanced with environmental sustainability, IAS has been actively involved in different international and European research initiatives, including the coordination and participation in six active Horizon 2020 and Europe projects. As part of its strategic internalization plan, IAS aims to reinforce its global leadership in agricultural research, as well as the number of IAS scientists engaged in international initiatives. This is envisioned through the promotion of innovative projects., enlarging the network of research collaborators and attracting foreign scientists. In this regard, the increase in the Horizon Europe budget, amounting to a 30% rise from Horizon 2020, presents a significant opportunity for IAS to work towards these objectives and to contribute to the European Union policy objectives for agriculture and environment priorities and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

To size this opportunity, IAS has launched the International Support Office (whose acronym in Spanish is UAI), an initiative designed to increase the participation of IAS researchers in international projects, particularly those funded by Horizon Europe, and to foster international collaborations. The UAI’s objectives include the identification and securing of key opportunities in several Horizon Europe calls, such as Pilar I (European Research Council and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions), Pilar II (Cluster 5: Climate, Energy, and Mobility; and Cluster 6: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment), Pilar III (European Innovation Council - EIC Open and Challenges), WIDERA (Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area) and thematic partnerships and missions related to soil and climate. By creating a portfolio of current and potential partners for collaboration, offering comprehensive assistance in identifying funding opportunities, building consortia, and developing competitive proposals, the UAI aims to enhance IAS's international project leadership and attract international research talent. The UAI will liaise with the Administration & Project Office, and support researchers, to ensure seamless project management during both pre- and post-award phases, fostering internal synergies between departments and promoting active engagement in European and international research networks.

UAI is confronted with several challenges: i),is to achieve the involvement of IAS researchers not yet engaged in international projects, which is a significant number; ii) to raise the leadership roles of researchers already engaged in Horizon Europe and other international initiatives; iii) the development of internal capabilities to manage large-scale projects, iv) to develop efficient ways to navigate complex burocratic procedure; v) find ways to overcome the economic and administrative barriers to attract foreign scientists; vi) to increase the level of collaboration, which is now moderate, across laboratories of different departments. To make relevant progress in these challenges, it is essential to implement targeted professional development and training programs for both researchers and administrative staff. Additionally, the UAI needs to find ways to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration within IAS to capitalise on synergies across research areas, resulting in stronger, more innovative project proposals that align with key EU policy areas and long-term sustainability objectives and goals.

In conclusion, the UAI is a strategic move for advancing IAS’s global standing in the field of sustainable agriculture research, and to diversify its staff by attracting researchers trained outside IAS. Through its focus on strategic project identification, capacity-building, the establishment of international partnerships, and bringing foreign researchers, IAS aims to significantly increase its participation and leadership in Horizon Europe by 2027 and diversify its staff.

This poster presentation offers an overview of the UAI’s objectives, challenges, and outlines the essential imperatives that will guide IAS’s path toward long-term sustainability and enhanced global collaboration. At the INORMS 2025 Congress, we will present our objectives, strategies for management revitalization efforts, and future outlook, along with the expected impact of these initiatives on the research community to raise discussion on how to address these challenges in institutes with similar conditions.