From October 15th to 17th, our colleague Vesna Merc joined colleagues and leaders from other Centres of Excellence across Europe for the 4th Teaming Club Conference. Hosted by BIOPOLIS, Biodiversity and Genetic Resources Research Center, in the new premises of the CoE BIOPOLIS center and in the premises of CIBIO near Vila du Conde close to Porto, Portugal, this year’s gathering focused on a critical theme for all CoEs: “Delivering effective strategies for long-term sustainability.” The event brought together representatives from nearly 50 Teaming projects to share best practices on ensuring our centres remain financially and functionally viable long after the initial EU funding cycles conclude.
The discussions were structured around four key thematic pillars essential for building resilient research organizations. A major takeaway was the need to activate the “Quadruple Helix”, connecting academia, government, industry, and civil society, to drive innovation and access non-traditional funding. It also explored strategies for fostering enterprise, with a strong emphasis on embedding entrepreneurial thinking and identifying “champions” within research teams early on. Equally important was the session on attracting international talent, where the consensus was clear: while competitive salaries matter, a strong team culture and holistic support systems for relocation and integration are the true drivers of retention. The excellently organized and relaxed conference offered many networking opportunities, while also providing a great chance to learn about and deepen knowledge on common challenges faced by centers of excellence: the role of national funding agencies for CoEs, sustainability and collaboration synergies, establishing, managing, and maintaining research infrastructure, European programs and cross-border cooperation, internationalization and fundraising, and the next steps of the Teaming Club.
The CTGCT played an active role in these high-level discussions, represented by our colleague Vesna. She served as a speaker in the panel Common Challenges & Solutions in a parallel thematic session on “Strategies to attract and retain international talent,” alongside peers from MIA Portugal (Multidisciplinary Institute of Ageing, Portugal) and FunGlass (Centre for Functional and Surface Functionalized Glass, Slovakia). During this session, discussion shifted from financial constraints to viewing international talent as the core driver of long-term research strength. Participants examined the growing challenge of competing globally for researchers amid visa barriers, bureaucratic friction, and non-competitive national salary frameworks. Key insights stressed that while compensation matters, it is the combination of strong team culture, holistic recruitment support, and meaningful non-salary incentives that ultimately sustains retention. Centres highlighted the value of streamlined administrative assistance, targeted repatriation pathways, flexible work arrangements, and clear career development structures as powerful enablers. The group concluded that collective advocacy for improved mobility frameworks and coordinated talent networks will be essential as global competition for expertise continues to intensify. These are strategies central to the CTGCT’s roadmap for the future.
A guided tour of the beautifully restored farm that now houses the BIOPOLIS Centre was organised. Participants enjoyed a lecture by Henrique Leitão on the interplay between mathematics, cartography, and navigation in early modern Portugal, complemented by inspiring evening events at both the opening and close of the conference. Particularly memorable was the tour led by BIOPOLIS Director Nuno Miguel dos Santos Ferrand de Almeida through the highly recommended, museologically ambitious, and fully interactive Biodiversity Hall exhibition in Porto.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the entire team at BIOPOLIS for their exceptional hospitality and for organizing such a great event. The exchange of knowledge within the Teaming Club is invaluable, and we are already looking forward to continuing these vital conversations at next year’s conference in Riga.