The results of the Arqus Research Initiative have been published!

The Arqus Research Initiative aims to promote long-term interdisciplinary research collaborations among member universities, with a particular focus on involving early-career researchers (ECRs). The 2025 call was open to all disciplines and aligned with the Arqus Alliance’s research priorities:

• Climate change and environmental sustainability
• Artificial intelligence and digital transformation
• European identity and heritage

Activities: Development of a research team with a view to e.g preparing joint proposals for external funding or joint publications.

Summary: This project brings together climate scientists, oceanographers, and theoretical physicists from Padua, Maynooth, and Graz to better understand and predict changes in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a key component of global climate regulation. It aims to reduce uncertainty in climate model projections by integrating observational data, machine learning, and theoretical frameworks. Activities include workshops and research coordination toward larger future proposals.

Activities: Small-scale research project, Mobility of small teams, Development of a research team with a view to e.g preparing joint proposals for external funding or joint publications

Summary: BrainStimPredict aims to develop an innovative computational pipeline to predict how the brain responds to stimulation, bridging neuroscience, control theory, and data science. With contributions from Padua, Granada, and Minho, the project will train six early-career researchers through joint research, mobility, and validation of models using high-resolution neuroimaging data. It supports digital transformation and clinical translation in mental health by providing open-source tools for precision therapies.

Activities: Small-scale research project

Summary: This project investigates the often-overlooked capacity of floral organs to perform photosynthesis and its significance across different plant species. By conducting a comparative physiological analysis, the research aims to uncover how floral photosynthesis contributes to reproductive efficiency and evolutionary adaptation, potentially informing ecological and agricultural strategies. It will strengthen collaboration and train early-career researchers in plant biology and comparative ecology.

Activities: Small-scale research project, Organisation of a research and/or advanced educational seminar and/or a winter or summer school, Mobility of small teams, Development of a research team with a view to e.g preparing joint proposals for external funding or joint publications

Summary: This project addresses the increasing threat of erosion to archaeological sites by combining geoscience, archaeology, and heritage studies. It seeks to understand erosion processes and their impact on cultural heritage across different regions, ultimately informing better conservation strategies. Activities include field studies, PhD workshops, and interdisciplinary training, helping to protect vulnerable archaeological heritage in a changing climate.