19 Dec
2025
19 Dec
'25
6:47 p.m.
Dear all,
Many thanks for joining our online meeting on 9 December. Below is a short summary of what
we agreed, plus a few links and actions we promised to share.
Key outcomes
1) Meeting cadence
*
We agreed to meet online once per month, with a pause during the summer break.
*
Starting February, meetings will follow a regular monthly slot chosen via a Doodle poll.
2) Scheduling
*
We will circulate a Doodle in January (after the winter break) to pick the best day/time
for the monthly meetings from February onwards.
*
January is an exception: we will schedule an ad hoc meeting once we have firm news on the
launch date of the next INTERREG NEXT MED call. There is little value in meeting before
that information is available. For reference, the last call for INTERREG NEXT MED was
opened on 14 January, so we expect a similar timeline this year.
3) Communications
*
We have created a mailing list and will use it for all group communications going
forward:
mediterraneanbiodiversitygenomics@lists.crg.es<mailto:mediterraneanbiodiversitygenomics@lists.crg.es>
(you all received this email already through this one)
*
We just added all of you, but if you would like to be removed from the list, or would like
to invite anyone else to join, please use this form:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://forms.office.com/e/n6Q6mYLhS9__;!!D9dNQ…
4) Collaboration platform and file sharing
*
We briefly discussed options (Slack + shared drive, MS Teams, etc.). We will propose a
practical solution at the next meeting.
5) Content and format of the monthly meetings
*
The goal is to use the monthly meetings to learn about key initiatives and identify
concrete collaboration opportunities. We proposed starting with ERGA, AfricaBP, DTol,
ATLASea, CBP, and others.
*
Tyler kindly volunteered to present ERGA, which we suggest as a good starting point for
February.
*
We will create a shared document where everyone can propose presentation slots and topics
for 2025. A possible format is 30 minutes presentation + 30 minutes network updates and
collaborative grant planning, but we can adjust as needed.
INTERREG NEXT MED: why it fits our goals
We discussed INTERREG NEXT MED as a strong match for Mediterranean cooperation, especially
given:
*
High co-funding (around 89% programme / 11% partners) and
*
A large maximum grant size (historically around €2.5M, varying by call).
On competitiveness (what we know from recent calls):
*
1st call (priority-agnostic, closed 30 May 2024): 631 submissions
*
112 advanced to Step 2 (about 18% of total submissions)
*
60 projects approved out of 630–631 submissions (about 9–10% overall success rate)
*
This also means that, once a proposal reached Step 2, roughly 54% of those (60 out of 112)
were ultimately funded, indicating that while the overall success rate is around 1 in 10,
the chances of success after passing the first evaluation step were approximately 1 in 2.
So, not too bad compared with other funding schemes.
*
2nd call (Green Transition priority focused, closed 15 May 2025): 814 submissions, still
under evaluation.
Eligible territories and funded projects
As a reminder, eligibility is territory-based (regions) rather than simply country-based.
*
Eligible territories (map + list):
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.interregnextmed.eu/discover-the-pro…
*
Programme overview (Interreg):
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://interreg.eu/programmes/next-mediterrane…
*
Project and partner data (keep.eu):
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://keep.eu/programmes/385/2021-2027-Medite…
Looking ahead: shaping proposal ideas (request to the group)
A key point from the discussion: for this scheme, we should not pitch “sequencing more
species” as the headline. We will need to frame proposals around a Mediterranean challenge
where biodiversity genomics is essential.
We will dedicate the January meeting to expanding on this, once we know the exact framing
and priorities of the 3rd call (including whether it restricts to specific priorities, as
happened in the previous call).
Action list
David and Roderic
*
Monitor the call launch and notify the group immediately, then schedule the January
meeting.
*
Send the February onwards Doodle in January (after the winter break).
*
Create the shared programme document for 2025 presentations.
Tyler
*
Prepare the ERGA overview for a future monthly meeting (proposed: February).
All participants
*
Share other relevant funding opportunities via the mailing list.
*
Volunteer for presentation slots once the shared programme document is circulated.
Thanks again, and best wishes for the end of the year. We will be in touch as soon as
there is news on the INTERREG NEXT MED call.
Kind regards,
David and Roderic
If this email reaches you outside of your regular working hours, please know that I
don't expect you to respond or take any action until you're back at work.
David Brena, PhD (he/him)
Scientific Project Manager
Strategy and Funding (SaF) Team
CRG - Centre for Genomic Regulation
Dr. Aiguader 88, PRBB Building
08003 Barcelona
[crg-logo-mail]<crg.es>
Chat with me in MS Teams<https://teams.microsoft.com/l/chat/0/0?users=
<david.brena(a)crg.eu>> or call me at +349331601208
This electronic transmission contains confidential information covered by professional
secrecy. Any reproduction, distribution or disclosure of its contents is strictly
prohibited. Any content including personal opinions or judgements does not necessarily
reflect the official opinion of the CRG and the responsibility for the abovementioned
content lies with its author. If you are not the intended recipient, you are kindly
requested not to disseminate nor to copy this transmission and to notify us as soon as
possible by phone (+34 93 3160100) or by email to
suport@crg.eu<mailto:suport@crg.eu>
________________________________
From: Roderic Guigo Serra <roderic.guigo(a)crg.eu>
Sent: Friday, December 12, 2025 10:46
To: David Ahumada Brena <david.brena(a)crg.eu>
Subject: Re: Mediterranean Biodiversity Genomics network online meeting
David
Estaria be enviar un resum de la reunio
Gracies
Roderic
El 4/12/25 a les 12:22, David Ahumada Brena ha escrit:
Dear all,
Thanks a lot for providing your availability for our online meeting next week. The most
voted slot is next Tuesday, December 9, from 16:00-17:00h CET. I am sending you the Zoom
link through a calendar invite in another email.
Since we didn't have any volunteers to present their experience with INTERREG EURO MED
or NEXT MED proposals/projects, here's the updated agenda:
• Welcome to new participants (5 to 10 min)
• Discussion of meeting frequency, format, and potential additional participants (15 min)
• Examples of funded projects in the INTERREG EURO MED or NEXT MED schemes that are about
biodiversity genomics (15 min)
• Initial discussion of potential themes for future applications, suggestions on how we
can do a matchmaking exercise so that we start building groups that can collaborate on
putting together a research proposal. It's important to keep in mind that, given the
diversity of expertise in the group, we might want to prepare more than one proposal (20
min)
IMPORTANT: For the ones who have not answered the form that we've sent asking you if
you still want to be part of these communications and future meetings (or not), here's
the link again:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://forms.office.com/e/n6Q6mYLhS9__;!!D9dNQ…
Looking forward to seeing you all.
Kind regards,
If this email reaches you outside of your regular working hours, please know that I
don't expect you to respond or take any action until you're back at work.
David Brena, PhD (he/him)
Scientific Project Manager
Strategy and Funding (SaF) Team
CRG - Centre for Genomic Regulation
Dr. Aiguader 88, PRBB Building
08003 Barcelona
[crg.es][crg-logo-mail]
Chat with me in MS Teams<https://teams.microsoft.com/l/chat/0/0?users=
<david.brena(a)crg.eu>> or call me at +349331601208
This electronic transmission contains confidential information covered by professional
secrecy. Any reproduction, distribution or disclosure of its contents is strictly
prohibited. Any content including personal opinions or judgements does not necessarily
reflect the official opinion of the CRG and the responsibility for the abovementioned
content lies with its author. If you are not the intended recipient, you are kindly
requested not to disseminate nor to copy this transmission and to notify us as soon as
possible by phone (+34 93 3160100) or by email to
suport@crg.eu<mailto:suport@crg.eu>
________________________________
From: David Ahumada Brena <david.brena@crg.eu><mailto:david.brena@crg.eu>
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2025 18:40
To: ivo gut <ivo.gut@cnag.eu><mailto:ivo.gut@cnag.eu>; monica bayes
<monica.bayes@cnag.eu><mailto:monica.bayes@cnag.eu>; Tyler Scott Alioto
<tyler.alioto@cnag.eu><mailto:tyler.alioto@cnag.eu>; Javier del Campo
<jdelcampo@ibe.upf-csic.es><mailto:jdelcampo@ibe.upf-csic.es>; rosa fernandez
<rosa.fernandez@ibe.upf-csic.es><mailto:rosa.fernandez@ibe.upf-csic.es>; Tomas
Marques <tomas.marques@upf.edu><mailto:tomas.marques@upf.edu>; Aureliano
Bombarely <abombarely@ibmcp.upv.es><mailto:abombarely@ibmcp.upv.es>; Massana,
Ramon <ramonm@icm.csic.es><mailto:ramonm@icm.csic.es>;
mriutort@ub.edu<mailto:mriutort@ub.edu>
<mriutort@ub.edu><mailto:mriutort@ub.edu>;
hrc@bio.ens.psl.eu<mailto:hrc@bio.ens.psl.eu>
<hrc@bio.ens.psl.eu><mailto:hrc@bio.ens.psl.eu>; Escriva
<hector.escriva@obs-banyuls.fr><mailto:hector.escriva@obs-banyuls.fr>;
andre@fondationtaraocean.org<mailto:andre@fondationtaraocean.org>
<andre@fondationtaraocean.org><mailto:andre@fondationtaraocean.org>; claudio
ciofi <claudio.ciofi@unifi.it><mailto:claudio.ciofi@unifi.it>; alessio
iannucci <alessio.iannucci@unifi.it><mailto:alessio.iannucci@unifi.it>;
Salvatore D'Aniello
<salvatore.daniello@szn.it><mailto:salvatore.daniello@szn.it>; Lorena Buono
<lorena.buono@szn.it><mailto:lorena.buono@szn.it>;
fabio.crocetta@szn.it<mailto:fabio.crocetta@szn.it>
<fabio.crocetta@szn.it><mailto:fabio.crocetta@szn.it>;
pycnogonides@gmail.com<mailto:pycnogonides@gmail.com>
<pycnogonides@gmail.com><mailto:pycnogonides@gmail.com>;
piero.carninci@fht.org<mailto:piero.carninci@fht.org>
<piero.carninci@fht.org><mailto:piero.carninci@fht.org>;
cinzia.ceccarelli@fht.org<mailto:cinzia.ceccarelli@fht.org>
<cinzia.ceccarelli@fht.org><mailto:cinzia.ceccarelli@fht.org>;
jessica.bertolini@fht.org<mailto:jessica.bertolini@fht.org>
<jessica.bertolini@fht.org><mailto:jessica.bertolini@fht.org>;
mazzoni@izw-berlin.de<mailto:mazzoni@izw-berlin.de>
<mazzoni@izw-berlin.de><mailto:mazzoni@izw-berlin.de>;
paola.bertucci@embl.de<mailto:paola.bertucci@embl.de>
<paola.bertucci@embl.de><mailto:paola.bertucci@embl.de>;
mark.blaxter@sanger.ac.uk<mailto:mark.blaxter@sanger.ac.uk>
<mark.blaxter@sanger.ac.uk><mailto:mark.blaxter@sanger.ac.uk>;
jm66@sanger.ac.uk<mailto:jm66@sanger.ac.uk>
<jm66@sanger.ac.uk><mailto:jm66@sanger.ac.uk>;
charlotte.wright@sanger.ac.uk<mailto:charlotte.wright@sanger.ac.uk>
<charlotte.wright@sanger.ac.uk><mailto:charlotte.wright@sanger.ac.uk>; Eleni
Christoforou | CMMI
<eleni.christoforou@cmmi.blue><mailto:eleni.christoforou@cmmi.blue>; Louis
Hadjioannou | CMMI
<louis.hadjioannou@cmmi.blue><mailto:louis.hadjioannou@cmmi.blue>;
leda.cai@cmmi.blue<mailto:leda.cai@cmmi.blue>
<leda.cai@cmmi.blue><mailto:leda.cai@cmmi.blue>; Martina Pavlek
<martina.pavlek@irb.hr><mailto:martina.pavlek@irb.hr>;
marina.hajd@gmail.com<mailto:marina.hajd@gmail.com>
<marina.hajd@gmail.com><mailto:marina.hajd@gmail.com>; Adriana Vella
<adriana.vella@um.edu.mt><mailto:adriana.vella@um.edu.mt>; elena buzan
<elena.buzan@famnit.upr.si><mailto:elena.buzan@famnit.upr.si>;
aja.boncina@upr.si<mailto:aja.boncina@upr.si>
<aja.boncina@upr.si><mailto:aja.boncina@upr.si>; Tereza Manousaki
<tereza@hcmr.gr><mailto:tereza@hcmr.gr>; kvasileiadou
<kvasileiadou@hcmr.gr><mailto:kvasileiadou@hcmr.gr>; adaleta durmic
<adaleta.durmic@ingeb.ba><mailto:adaleta.durmic@ingeb.ba>;
lejla.usanovic@ingeb.unsa.ba<mailto:lejla.usanovic@ingeb.unsa.ba>
<lejla.usanovic@ingeb.unsa.ba><mailto:lejla.usanovic@ingeb.unsa.ba>;
sunje.emina@gmail.com<mailto:sunje.emina@gmail.com>
<sunje.emina@gmail.com><mailto:sunje.emina@gmail.com>; Faheem Shehzad BALOCH
<balochfaheem13@gmail.com><mailto:balochfaheem13@gmail.com>; Azhar Joiya
<azharjoiya22@gmail.com><mailto:azharjoiya22@gmail.com>;
hicret.yalcin@tubitak.gov.tr<mailto:hicret.yalcin@tubitak.gov.tr>
<hicret.yalcin@tubitak.gov.tr><mailto:hicret.yalcin@tubitak.gov.tr>;
gulsima.usluer@tubitak.gov.tr<mailto:gulsima.usluer@tubitak.gov.tr>
<gulsima.usluer@tubitak.gov.tr><mailto:gulsima.usluer@tubitak.gov.tr>;
Natalija Cadjenovic
<natalicadjenovic@gmail.com><mailto:natalicadjenovic@gmail.com>;
jbaptiste.ledoux
<jbaptiste.ledoux@gmail.com><mailto:jbaptiste.ledoux@gmail.com>;
ana.matos@ciimar.up.pt<mailto:ana.matos@ciimar.up.pt>
<ana.matos@ciimar.up.pt><mailto:ana.matos@ciimar.up.pt>;
niklas.wahlberg@biol.lu.se<mailto:niklas.wahlberg@biol.lu.se>
<niklas.wahlberg@biol.lu.se><mailto:niklas.wahlberg@biol.lu.se>;
saga137@gmail.com<mailto:saga137@gmail.com>
<saga137@gmail.com><mailto:saga137@gmail.com>; emirjeta adhami
<emirjeta.adhami@inca-al.org><mailto:emirjeta.adhami@inca-al.org>;
ina.nasto@yahoo.com<mailto:ina.nasto@yahoo.com>
<ina.nasto@yahoo.com><mailto:ina.nasto@yahoo.com>;
kristianalushnjari1999@gmail.com<mailto:kristianalushnjari1999@gmail.com>
<kristianalushnjari1999@gmail.com><mailto:kristianalushnjari1999@gmail.com>;
Bouabid Badaoui <bouabidbadaoui@gmail.com><mailto:bouabidbadaoui@gmail.com>;
S.shlaka@um5r.ac.ma<mailto:S.shlaka@um5r.ac.ma>
<S.shlaka@um5r.ac.ma><mailto:S.shlaka@um5r.ac.ma>;
k.taha@um5r.ac.ma<mailto:k.taha@um5r.ac.ma>
<k.taha@um5r.ac.ma><mailto:k.taha@um5r.ac.ma>; s oulghazi
<s.oulghazi@yahoo.fr><mailto:s.oulghazi@yahoo.fr>;
n.chafai@iav.ac.ma<mailto:n.chafai@iav.ac.ma>
<n.chafai@iav.ac.ma><mailto:n.chafai@iav.ac.ma>; Hayah, Ichrak
<ichrakhayah@gmail.com><mailto:ichrakhayah@gmail.com>; Semir Bechir Suheil
Gaouar <suheilgaouar@gmail.com><mailto:suheilgaouar@gmail.com>;
bourichewalid84@gmail.com<mailto:bourichewalid84@gmail.com>
<bourichewalid84@gmail.com><mailto:bourichewalid84@gmail.com>;
mouniker07@gmail.com<mailto:mouniker07@gmail.com>
<mouniker07@gmail.com><mailto:mouniker07@gmail.com>; hadjer boulila
<hadjer.boulila@univ-tlemcen.dz><mailto:hadjer.boulila@univ-tlemcen.dz>;
Zouari Bellaaj Amel
<amel.zouari@instm.rnrt.tn><mailto:amel.zouari@instm.rnrt.tn>;
yosra.khammeri@gmail.com<mailto:yosra.khammeri@gmail.com>
<yosra.khammeri@gmail.com><mailto:yosra.khammeri@gmail.com>;
mourad.attouchi@gmail.com<mailto:mourad.attouchi@gmail.com>
<mourad.attouchi@gmail.com><mailto:mourad.attouchi@gmail.com>;
racha.sallemi@ird.fr<mailto:racha.sallemi@ird.fr>
<racha.sallemi@ird.fr><mailto:racha.sallemi@ird.fr>;
spiruline.du.cap.bon@gmail.com<mailto:spiruline.du.cap.bon@gmail.com>
<spiruline.du.cap.bon@gmail.com><mailto:spiruline.du.cap.bon@gmail.com>;
dg_bng@bng.nat.tn<mailto:dg_bng@bng.nat.tn>
<dg_bng@bng.nat.tn><mailto:dg_bng@bng.nat.tn>; abdoallah sharaf
<abdoallah.sharaf@gmail.com><mailto:abdoallah.sharaf@gmail.com>; nour elhoda
<nour_elhoda@agr.asu.edu.eg><mailto:nour_elhoda@agr.asu.edu.eg>;
amirahamdan@alexu.edu.eg<mailto:amirahamdan@alexu.edu.eg>
<amirahamdan@alexu.edu.eg><mailto:amirahamdan@alexu.edu.eg>;
merwan68@yahoo.com<mailto:merwan68@yahoo.com>
<merwan68@yahoo.com><mailto:merwan68@yahoo.com>;
H.mirwan@uot.edu.ly<mailto:H.mirwan@uot.edu.ly>
<h.mirwan@uot.edu.ly><mailto:h.mirwan@uot.edu.ly>;
marwan.keshlaf7@fulbrightmail.org<mailto:marwan.keshlaf7@fulbrightmail.org>
<marwan.keshlaf7@fulbrightmail.org><mailto:marwan.keshlaf7@fulbrightmail.org>;
kijawasreh@just.edu.jo<mailto:kijawasreh@just.edu.jo>
<kijawasreh@just.edu.jo><mailto:kijawasreh@just.edu.jo>; Ahmad alathamna
<ahmad_alathamna@yahoo.com><mailto:ahmad_alathamna@yahoo.com>; Nabil M. Nemer
<nabilnemer@usek.edu.lb><mailto:nabilnemer@usek.edu.lb>; Pauline Aad
<paad@ndu.edu.lb><mailto:paad@ndu.edu.lb>
Cc: Roderic Guigo Serra <roderic.guigo@crg.eu><mailto:roderic.guigo@crg.eu>
Subject: Follow-Up & Next Steps After Our BRIDGE-MED COST Action Proposal
Dear all,
Thank you so much for your involvement in our recently submitted BRIDGE MED COST Action
proposal. It was fantastic to see such engagement across the Mediterranean basin.
Here are a few key figures from this year’s call:
• Total proposals submitted: 1090, the highest ever, and a 29 percent increase compared to
2024
• Expected funded proposals: 70
• Expected success rate: about 6 percent
Competition will be strong, but we remain confident in the quality of our proposal and in
how well it aligns with the mission and values of the COST Association. Fingers crossed.
Regardless of the outcome, this process has already created a very positive impact. It
brought together many colleagues from ERGA, AfricaBP, and other EBP-related initiatives,
building a strong network for Mediterranean scientific cooperation. We would love to keep
this momentum and begin organising periodic online meetings. These will help us learn
about each other's work, explore shared interests, and prepare for future joint
funding opportunities.
One of the most relevant opportunities for the near future is the INTERREG NEXT MED
programme, which supports transnational cooperation projects aimed at strengthening
environmental and societal wellbeing across the Mediterranean. The call for 2026 is
expected to open between December and early January, with a likely deadline around April
or May. This makes it a perfect moment to start gathering information and learning from
funded examples.
To move forward, we kindly ask each of you to take two very quick actions by this
Thursday, 27 Nov:
1. Please fill out this MS Form:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://forms.office.com/e/n6Q6mYLhS9__;!!D9dNQ…
The form lets you confirm whether you want to keep receiving updates, helps us include new
colleagues who may join through forwarded invitations, and allows us to identify anyone
with experience in INTERREG NEXT MED who might be willing to share insights during the
meeting.
2. Please answer the Doodle poll to schedule the meeting:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doodle.com/group-poll/participate/bkM33…
Please also feel free to forward this email, or simply the links to the form and the
Doodle, to anyone you believe would be a good fit for this community and might be
interested in joining the discussions.
For the first online meeting, we propose the following agenda:
• Welcome to new participants (5 to 10 min)
• Discussion of meeting frequency, format, and potential additional participants (15 min)
• Short presentations from colleagues with experience in INTERREG NEXT MED, if available
(20 min)
• Initial discussion of potential themes for future applications. We may consider
preparing more than one proposal, given the diversity of expertise in the group (20 min)
Thank you again for all your efforts and enthusiasm. We look forward to reconnecting and
building on what we have started together.
Kind regards,
David & Roderic
If this email reaches you outside of your regular working hours, please know that I
don't expect you to respond or take any action until you're back at work.
David Brena, PhD (he/him)
Scientific Project Manager
Strategy and Funding (SaF) Team
CRG - Centre for Genomic Regulation
Dr. Aiguader 88, PRBB Building
08003 Barcelona
[crg.es][crg-logo-mail]
Chat with me in MS Teams<https://teams.microsoft.com/l/chat/0/0?users=
<david.brena(a)crg.eu>> or call me at +349331601208
This electronic transmission contains confidential information covered by professional
secrecy. Any reproduction, distribution or disclosure of its contents is strictly
prohibited. Any content including personal opinions or judgements does not necessarily
reflect the official opinion of the CRG and the responsibility for the abovementioned
content lies with its author. If you are not the intended recipient, you are kindly
requested not to disseminate nor to copy this transmission and to notify us as soon as
possible by phone (+34 93 3160100) or by email to
suport@crg.eu<mailto:suport@crg.eu>
