Center for Biological Invasions in Forests

This proposal addresses the priorities of the Call by appointing an Era Chair Holder at the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences of the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU), Dr. Andrew M. Liebhold, a globally prominent scientist in the field of biological invasions.

The proposal aims to establish HIVE: The Centre for Biological Invasions in Forests around the Chair, by hiring a team of excellent researchers and adopting an innovative work model of Socio-Ecological Synthesis Centres (SESC).

This model has recently had much success in generating innovative high-impact research, yet there has been only a very limited uptake in Widening countries.

Contrary to the traditional hierarchical system of research organisation, SESC research is organised around Working Groups (WG), which are formed of a diverse collection of researchers and innovators from mostly outside host institutions.

Adopting this work model in HIVE will deliver a considerable increase in mobility level across disciplines and sectors and facilitate a new level of cooperation between researchers and innovators.

Involving EU and national decision and policymakers, nature conservation and biosecurity experts in WG and fostering an active bi-directional interaction, will profoundly contribute to the knowledge-based economy and society and strengthen the human capital base in Widening countries.

To maximise the efficiency and impact of HIVE, a system of institutional reforms will be adopted at CZU, involving administrative changes facilitating the work model of SESC, fostering HIVEs sustainability in the post-EU funded period, and increasing FLD capacity to attract talent and contribute to reverting the progressive brain drain in Widening countries.

Reforms will be adopted to increase the capacity to compete for prestigious research grants, ultimately contributing to HIVE`s sustainability. A dissemination and communication strategy is proposed to maximise the spill-over effect on CZU and WC.