The success of scientific cooperation
NILS Science and Sustainability programme, funded by the EEA Grants, has enabled to develop more than 100 research projects with excellent results and provide scholarships to 200 students from 11 Spanish universities.
30.05.2016
NILS Science and Sustainability programme, operated by Complutense University of Madrid, is a clear example of the good results derived from cooperation between countries in research. This is the main conclusion of the programme closing event held in the University.
With 3.9 million euros from the EEA Grants, 201 students from 11 Spanish universities have undertaken a study placement in the best academic institutions in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Besides, 101 research projects have been developed with excellent results involving 236 researchers from Spain, Norway and Iceland, in strategic topics related to earth sustainability and human wellbeing. The overall objective of promoting human capital and knowledge in these countries through academic collaboration and scientific research has been more than fulfilled.
Marta Arregi, head of the programme, highlighted in the closing event that the most important thing has been “the mutual discovery that has enabled to involve more than 80 entities from Spain and the donor countries in the development of projects and collaborations that in some cases will stand the test of time”.
Veena Gill, representative from the Norwegian Centre for Internationalization of Education, donor programme partner, pointed out that “Spain is a showcase of the tremendous achievements of academic cooperation and excellence in education”.
The challenge is to continue the cooperation beyond the EEA Grants. So far, 57% of the projects intend to maintain collaboration with their Norwegian and Icelandic partners with other European calls in view.
During the closing event, some research projects were presented. Such as the research on materials for energy applications developed by a team from Complutense University of Madrid and the Norwegian Institute for Energy Technology; or a new method to discover brain pathologies using knowledge based algorithms by UNED and Oslo University; or a study of the factors that control intestinal bacteria and how they influence our health, a joint effort by IATA and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.