The UAB is the institution with the highest number of MSCA Staff Exchanges grants awarded

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges 2024 call has evaluated 324 projects, of which a total of 80 have received funding, with 103 countries represented in the consortia. This is an international collaboration beyond European borders, which is the main feature of this MSCA programme. Of the 80 funded projects, the UAB coordinates five, being the institution with the highest number of coordinated projects. The projects are the following:

• Sustainable biochar-enhanced upcycling solutions for Zero-Waste valorization of organic waste into circular economy products (Bio4UP), coordinated by lecturer Antoni Sánchez from the Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering. The project aims to find synergies between universities, research centres and companies to promote, at European level, the use of biochar as a key material in the innovation and sustainable and circular management of organic waste, with the objective of obtaining bioproducts and bioenergy.
   
• Brewer’s spent grains Bio-stimulant enriched with Selenium for Barley Stress Tolerance and Functional Beverages (BrewSelBar), coordinated by lecturer María Jesús Sánchez from the Department of Chemistry. The project aims to raise the value of by-products of the brewing industry by developing a plant biostimulant enriched with selenium. This innovative product, within the framework of a circular economy strategy, will improve the tolerance of barley to environmental stress and make it possible to produce beer and other non-alcoholic beverages with health-promoting functional properties.
   
• Fostering rights and agency with girls and women with disability from culturally minoritised groups (FRIDA), coordinatd by lecturer Josep Maria Sanahuja from the Department of Applied Pedagogy. The project, presented by the Centre for Studies and Research for an Inclusive Society (CERSIN) of the UAB, aims to design actions that work towards finding solutions for girls and women with disabilities from culturally minoritised groups in the educational, professional and family spheres, through an inclusive research methodology. It aims to define priorities that reflect the demands of these girls and women, as well as barriers and levers in educational, professional and socio-familial services through the exchange of inclusive practices.
   
• Sargassum Bioeconomy: From Coastal Biomass to Advanced Sustainable Materials (SARGEX), coordinated by lecturer Mercè Llugany from the Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology and Ecology. The project offers a circular and sustainable solution to transform sargassum seaweed, whose proliferation represents a growing threat to European marine ecosystems and coastal economies, into bioinputs, biochar and biogas without generating waste. This contributes to more sustainable agriculture and the EU's green transition.
   
• Advancing European Dry Cured Ham Value Chains with Data-Driven Authentication and Global Traceability Standards (HAMTRACE), coordinated by lecturer Manuel Valiente from the Department of Chemistry. The project applies traceability methods based on value chain technology to verify the authenticity of the ham.

With a total budget of 99.47 million euros for the entire call, the creation of these networks will enable global challenges to be addressed through the exchange of knowledge and ideas that bring research closer to the market. The objective of developing sustainable collaborations between institutions from different sectors, both in Europe and beyond, is achieved through stays and exchanges between research personnel at all stages of their careers, as well as technical, management and administrative and service staff linked to R&D&I functions.

More information: 
Projects selected for funding under the MSCA Staff Exchanges 2024 call