ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS

Their core work

The Arizona Board of Regents is the governing body for Arizona's three public universities (Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and University of Arizona), representing a massive US research system with expertise spanning dozens of disciplines. In H2020, their primary role has been providing specialist researchers for European-led staff exchange and mobility programmes (MSCA-RISE), contributing domain knowledge in areas from evolutionary biology and climate economics to astrophysics and nanomaterials regulation. They function as a transatlantic research bridge — European consortia tap into Arizona's faculty and lab infrastructure to access US-based expertise that complements European teams. Their contributions are highly distributed across departments and research groups rather than concentrated in a single lab or institute.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2018), Arizona's involvement centred on mathematical and economic modelling — evolutionary game theory (FourCmodelling), climate economics (GEMCLIME), and responsible research frameworks (RRI-Practice). From 2019 onward, the focus shifted markedly toward earth and space sciences (DUSTBUSTERS, HALT, Stardust-R), ecological genomics (DIAGRASS), sustainability governance (GOVTROFF, RECYCLE), and cultural heritage studies (AGATHOCLES). This broadening reflects not a strategic pivot but the nature of a multi-university system where different departments engage independently with European partners.

Arizona's recent projects increasingly address environmental sustainability, ecological adaptation, and safe-by-design materials — suggesting growing appetite for collaborations that connect fundamental science to regulatory and policy outcomes.

How they like to work

Arizona never coordinates H2020 projects — all 27 engagements are as partner or third party, with 21 of 27 in third-party roles, mostly through MSCA-RISE staff exchange programmes. They operate as a specialist contributor that European coordinators recruit for specific faculty expertise rather than as a project driver. With 294 unique partners across 48 countries, they are an extraordinarily well-connected node but spread thin — each project involves different Arizona researchers rather than a single cohesive team.

An exceptionally wide network of 294 partners across 48 countries, making them one of the most broadly connected US institutions in H2020. Their connections span virtually every European country plus partners in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, driven by the MSCA-RISE mobility model.

What sets them apart

As a US public university system with three major research institutions under one umbrella, Arizona offers European consortia something rare: a single legal entity that can provide specialist researchers across almost any discipline, from astrophysics to archaeology to nanomaterial toxicology. Their MSCA-RISE track record (10 projects) makes them a proven partner for staff exchange and mobility schemes — they understand the administrative requirements and can host visiting European researchers efficiently. For consortium builders, they are a reliable non-EU partner that adds transatlantic reach without coordination overhead.

Highlights from their portfolio

• RRI-Practice
  Their highest-funded H2020 project (EUR 136,888) and one of the few where they participated directly rather than as a third party, studying responsible innovation practices across organisations.
• GEMCLIME
  A long-running project (2016–2022) on climate and energy economics covering CO2 mitigation, consumer behaviour, and renewable energy — their deepest sustained engagement with a single research theme.
• SUNSHINE
  Their most recent thematic project (2021–2024), contributing to safe-and-sustainable-by-design strategies for advanced nanomaterials — signals a move toward applied regulatory science.