University of Salamanca Programme to Foster Research Excellence

ongoing

The “University of Salamanca Programme to Foster Research Excellence” (USAL4EXCELLENCE) is an initiative of the University of Salamanca (USAL), which aims to attract 40 Experienced Researchers (ERs) positions for 30 months in two calls of 20 positions per each. The main goal of the programme is to build a critical mass of scientific leaders that will advance regional competitiveness and also European sustainable socio-economic development. USAL4EXCELLENCE aims to achieve this purpose by fostering research collaboration internationally and enhancing knowledge and technology transfer between academia and industry. At regional level, the project will be clearly connected with the Regional Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart specialization (RIS3) of Castilla y León (Spain’s largest region). In terms of the selection and recruitment process of ERs, this will be in several steps, all of which following the Horizon 2020 guidelines of open, transparent, merit-based recruitment. In terms of science, establishing that the main criterion for selection is scientific excellence, USAL4EXCELLENCE will recognize only the best ideas, welcoming brilliant minds in and setting them free to collaborate. Being “bottom-up”, USAL4EXCELLENCE will support research across all thematic areas through USAL’s current portfolio of interdisciplinary Research Centres, which includes 22 Research Centres including the fields of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, Medicine, Science and Engineering. Scheduling mandatory secondments in non-academic organizations, USAL4EXCELLENCE will contribute to open new opportunities in translational research and innovation in the non-academic sector. Therefore, USAL4EXCELLENCE will provide fellows with training and networking opportunities that will enhance their career development potential and will encourage them to go beyond the limits of their own discipline and thus to enhance their independent thinking and leadership capacities.