STEPPING UP SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION CAPACITY FOR CLIMATE-RESILIENT CROP IMPROVEMENT AND PRODUCTION

The CROPINNO establishes collaboration network between Institut za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo, Institut od nacionalnog značaja za Republiku Srbiju (IFVCNS), Novi Sad, Serbia and internationally-recognized research institutions from Spain (CSIC-IAS, Cordoba), Italy (UNIPD, Padova), and Germany (FZJ, Juelich and UROS, Rostock).

IFVCNS is the National Institute of the Republic of Serbia and world-wide recognized institution in plant breeding.

However, it still lacks in technology and innovation capacity in multi-omics and modern phenotyping, as well as in international visibility and project management and administration skills.The main objective of CROPINNO project is to step up and stimulate scientific excellence and innovation capacity of IFVCNS in the field of climate-smart crop improvement and production and enhance its ability to respond and create innovative solutions for the challenges that agriculture faces - climate changes and need to feed the increasing population.

The other CROPINNO objectives are strengthening of the research management and administration skills of the IFVCNS and creating the conditions for positioning of IFVCNS as a regional hub of R&I in the area of agriculture and creation of Climate Crops Centre.

These objectives will be achieved through a set of training, networking and dissemination activities, including short-term scientific missions, workshops, international summer schools, national and international conferences, as well as Field days.

The expected impacts of CROPPINO include improved excellence capacity, enhanced strategic networking activities, raised reputation, research profile and attractiveness of IFVCNS and the research profile of its staff, strengthened research management capacities and administrative skills of IFVCNS staff, as well as improved creativity supported by the development of new research activities and collaborations and increased mobility of qualified scientists.