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= &lt;david.brena(a)crg.eu&gt;&gt; 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 &lt;roderic.guigo(a)crg.eu&gt; Sent: Friday, December 12, 2025 10:46 To: David Ahumada Brena &lt;david.brena(a)crg.eu&gt; 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= &lt;david.brena(a)crg.eu&gt;&gt; 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= &lt;david.brena(a)crg.eu&gt;&gt; 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>