CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Their core work

Cornell University is a major US research university that participates in European H2020 projects exclusively as a third-party partner, bringing American scientific depth to transatlantic research collaborations. Their involvement spans an unusually wide range of disciplines — from computational genomics and materials science to food behavior research and wireless communications — reflecting the breadth of a large research university with world-class departments across sciences, engineering, and humanities. In the H2020 context, Cornell primarily hosts or co-supervises Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellows, serving as a US-based research destination that enriches European training networks with American expertise and infrastructure.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2018), Cornell's H2020 involvement centered on physical sciences and materials — protein crystallography, nanomaterials, ferroelectric engineering, climate economics, and structural biology. From 2019 onward, participation shifted markedly toward life sciences, computational biology, and social-behavioral research: pan-genomics, microbiota engineering, neuroscience of pain, computational ecology, and children's eating behavior became dominant themes. This evolution reflects a move from hard physical sciences toward data-intensive biology and human-centered research disciplines.

Cornell is increasingly engaged in data-driven life sciences and human behavior research, making them a strong partner for projects combining computational methods with biological or social questions.

How they like to work

Cornell participates exclusively as a third-party partner — never as coordinator or direct consortium member — which is typical for US institutions in H2020 that join through MSCA mobility schemes. With 148 unique partners across 31 countries, they operate as a broadly connected node rather than a loyal repeat-collaborator, reflecting the university's role as a prestigious research destination that European networks seek out. Working with Cornell means accessing deep disciplinary expertise and US-based infrastructure, but project leadership and administrative coordination will rest with the European partners.

Cornell has collaborated with 148 unique partners across 31 countries, giving it one of the widest geographic footprints among US-based H2020 participants. This breadth comes from joining many different MSCA networks rather than deep ties with a few institutions.

What sets them apart

As a top-tier US research university, Cornell offers European consortia something most partners cannot: access to the American research ecosystem, including its funding landscape, industry connections, and talent pool. Their exclusive participation through MSCA schemes makes them an ideal third-party for training networks that want a transatlantic dimension. The sheer disciplinary breadth — from pan-genomics to wireless 5G to neuroscience of pain — means Cornell can contribute specialist expertise in areas where European partners may lack depth.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PANGAIA
  A computationally ambitious project (2020–2025) on pan-genome graph algorithms and data integration, reflecting Cornell's strength in algorithmic bioinformatics at scale.
• WINDMILL
  Bridges wireless communications engineering with machine learning for 5G and IoT — an unusual interdisciplinary combination that connects Cornell to the digital infrastructure sector.
• Edulia
  A large MSCA training network (2018–2022) on children's eating behavior combining food science, psychology, neuroscience, and social marketing — showcasing Cornell's multidisciplinary reach.