EUROPESE ORGANISATIE VOOR WETENSCHAPPELIJK PLANTENONDERZOEK E.P.S.O. IVZW

Their core work

EPSO is the European Plant Science Organisation, a Brussels-based association that represents plant research institutes, universities, and departments across Europe. Their core function is coordinating the plant science community — bridging research policy, responsible innovation practices, and public communication around topics like gene editing, crop improvement, and bioeconomy. In H2020 projects, they contribute expertise in science communication, responsible research and innovation (RRI), and multi-stakeholder engagement rather than bench-level research. They act as the connective tissue between plant scientists, policymakers, and society on sensitive topics like new breeding technologies.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

EPSO's early H2020 work (2017-2018) centered on gene editing governance and communication — projects like CHIC dealt with CRISPR, cisgenesis, and the societal acceptance of new breeding techniques. Their later projects (2021 onward) shift toward applied plant biotechnology, particularly plant cell cultivation in bioreactors and scale-up for commercial products like cosmetics (InnCoCells). This evolution suggests a move from policy-and-communication roles toward facilitating the translation of plant science into industrial value chains.

EPSO is shifting from advocacy and communication roles toward enabling the commercial application of plant biotechnology, particularly in high-value sectors like cosmetics and biorefining.

How they like to work

EPSO exclusively participates as a partner, never as coordinator — consistent with their role as a membership association that supports consortia rather than leading technical research. With 70 unique partners across 22 countries from just 4 projects, they operate in large, diverse consortia (averaging 17+ partners per project). This makes them a network hub: partnering with EPSO means gaining access to the broader European plant science community they represent.

Despite only 4 projects, EPSO has collaborated with 70 unique partners across 22 countries, reflecting their umbrella role representing European plant science institutes. Their network spans nearly all EU member states with strong connections to research universities and agricultural institutes.

What sets them apart

EPSO is not a research performer — it is the representative body for plant science in Europe, which gives it a unique convening power that individual labs or universities cannot match. For consortium builders, EPSO brings legitimacy, access to a pan-European network of plant scientists, and proven capability in responsible innovation and public engagement — the "soft" components that increasingly determine whether EU projects pass review. Their modest funding shares (avg EUR 189K) reflect a facilitation role, but their network value far exceeds what the numbers suggest.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CHIC
  Largest EPSO budget (EUR 301,875) and directly addressed the politically sensitive topic of CRISPR and cisgenesis in crop improvement, with a strong communication mandate.
• InnCoCells
  Represents EPSO's newest direction — plant cell bioreactors for cosmetics — signaling a pivot toward industrial bioprocessing applications.
• CropBooster-P
  A strategic preparatory action (CSA) for a major future crop yield initiative, showing EPSO's role in shaping European research agendas.