Annual Joint Progress Meeting of the international initiative CBGP-CEPLAS

Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (CBGP) and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS) celebrated on October 29th 2025 their annual joint meeting, in the context of the International Collaborative Scientific Program CBGP-CEPLAS (CSPint CBGP-CEPLAS). This bilateral research program between both institutions with national excellence seals is focusing on “Improving edaphic adaptation, disease resistance and growth of plants to respond to environmental challenges”, and is allowing since 2023 the mutual exchange and co-direction of PhD students. Five research projects have been granted with five PhD students, which are financially supported by Severo Ochoa excellent grant of CBGP (CEX2020-000999-S) and by CEPLAS Excellence grant funds. Scientific progress of the five projects was presented by involved PhD students, giving updates of their current and future research activities. Notably, four of the five PhD students of the CSPint CBGP-CEPLAS are currently performing research stages in CEPLAS labs (3) and in CBGP labs (1). Given the success of the current first edition, both institutions are anticipating a new edition of this bilateral exchange program for 2026/2027.

CBGP-CEPLAS Collaborative Scientific Program will support the formation of six PhD students.

The Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (CBGP, UPM-INIA) of Spain, Centre  of Excellence Severo Ochoa (SO), and the Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS) of Germany have announced an agreement to collaborate in different research and innovation areas (RIAs) related with plant/crop adaptation to environmental changes and plant nutrition and growth. This collaboration implies the initiation of six joint projects involving six PhD students that will be financially supported by CBGP and CEPLAS. CBGP-CEPLAS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) that establishes the basis for the promotion of their cooperation in science and technology and education. The MoU was signed by CBGP stakeholders institutions (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) and Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)), and CEPLAS research centers and universities (Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, University of Cologne, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research and Forschungszentrum Jülich). The MoU aims to reinforces the international cooperation position of CEPLAS and CBGP.

Upon MoU agreement the first joint International Collaborative Scientific Projects call (CBGP-CEPLAS CSPint) was launched on “Improving edaphic adaptation, disease resistance and growth of plants to respond to environmental challenges”. Six projects with the joint participation of CBGP/CEPLAS researchers were selected for financial support. These six projects have been granted with six PhD students that will perform their experimental research and Theses objectives at CBGP facilities and CEPLAS research centers and universities. PhD students associated to the program will have a specific formation plan with annual secondments and stages (3 to 6 months) at CBGP (Spain) and research centers of CEPLAS (Germany). 

Antonio Molina, CBGP Director and Scientific Director of Severo Ochoa Excellence program said that “this collaboration is a unique opportunity to develop ambitious scientific and technological programs by bringing together excellent researchers from CBGP and CEPLAS with complementary expertise”. He also remarks that “this initiative is a great opportunity for our researchers, but mainly for PhD students that will have the opportunity to develop the initial steps of their research careers in international environments and groups of excellence, and will benefit from specific secondments and formation programs provided by CBGP and CEPLAS”.

Maria von Korff Schmising, the CEPLAS speaker, indicated that “this new cooperation between the Center for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics (CBGP) and the Cluster of Excellence in Plant Sciences (CEPLAS) will be a great opportunity to collaborate and join forces in the fields of plant science, technology and education. The joint dedicated PhD program offers our students the chance to learn, develop and network in an international research environment. I believe that this collaboration will contribute to improving the impact and visibility of plant science in Europe. 

About CBGP

The CBGP (UPM, INIA/CSIC) is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence that belongs to the network of Severo Ochoa Centers and María de Maeztu Units of Excellence Alliance (SOMMa). The CBGP is internationally positioned as one of the most advanced reference centers in the area of agriculture and plant biotechnology. The mission of the CBGP (UPM-INIA/CSIC) is to carry out fundamental and strategic research within the field of plant biology and microorganisms that interact with plants. The research carried out by the different groups of the Centre is aimed at understanding, from a multidisciplinary point of view, essential processes such as the development of plants, their interaction with the environment, and the molecular mechanisms that regulate plant nutrition. Likewise, the CBGP (UPM-INIA/CSIC) develops new tools for computational biology and genomics to achieve these objectives. The acquisition of basic biological knowledge is essential to combat the challenges facing agricultural and forestry production and should contribute to the development of new biotechnological solutions. The CBGP (UPM-INIA/CSIC) also plays a relevant role as an educational institution, being a reference centre for the training of young scientists and Masters and Degree students in the areas of Plant Biotechnology and Genomics.

About CEPLAS

The Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS) is a joint initiative of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU), University of Cologne (UoC), Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research Cologne (MPIPZ) and Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ). The mission of CEPLAS is to conduct fundamental research in plant biology as a basis for developing innovative strategies for sustainable plant production. CEPLAS focuses on establishing a mechanistic understanding of the complex interplay between plant development, growth and metabolism that controls life cycle transitions and environmental adaptation. Further, CEPLAS elucidates mechanisms underlying plant-microbe interactions to optimize edaphic adaptation and plant performance in varying environments. To achieve these goals CEPLAS develops advanced tools and methods in synthetic biology, genomics and data science. Furthermore, CEPLAS has established outstanding training programs on all career levels for the next generation of plant scientists, which strongly benefit from the interdisciplinary and complementary expertise within the cluster and strong links to industry.