The EPIBOOST project manager, Ana Sofia Santiago, was in Barcelona, Spain, during the last week of June 2024 in a staff exchange visiting CSIC – the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC) and the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Advanced Partners of the project. She had the opportunity to gain diverse professional experience and access excellent practices implemented by CSIC within the context of Horizon Europe funding.
During the staff exchange period, Ana Sofia Santiago had the chance to participate in the Joint Study Visit at the cross-section of Health and Environment organised by the “network of National Contact Points for Widening Participation and Strengthening of the European Research Area (NCP_WIDERA.NET)” project, which brought together 25 research managers and administrators from Widening countries. The host organisations from Barcelona included ICM-CSIC (Research Support Office: Ocean Science for a Healthy Planet); IDAEA – CSIC (EU Programmes and Fundraising Office); Fundació Privada Institut de Salut Global – ISGlobal (Pre-award department); and Fundació Privada Vall d’Hebron Institut d’Oncologia – VHIO (Scientific Management Area).
Ana Sofia Santiago found the study visit programme excellent and the hosts very welcoming and facilitating of good practices sharing. The experience allowed her to bring back valuable lessons to strengthen CESAM and the University of Aveiro’s competitiveness in securing international research funding, and capacity to enlarge networking with leading research organizations in Barcelona.
A special acknowledge is due to Merce Ratera, Laia Navarro Martin and Mercedes Blazquez for making this exchange possible and enriching to Ana Santiago!
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