RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY

Their core work

Rutgers is a major US public research university that serves as a transatlantic knowledge bridge in EU-funded research, contributing American expertise across wireless communications, biomedical sciences, and computational methods. Their H2020 involvement spans 5G network architecture, organ-on-chip technologies, pharmaceutical formulation, and high-performance computing for biomedical simulation. As a non-EU institution, they typically join consortia as an associated or third-party partner, bringing complementary capabilities that strengthen EU-US research cooperation. Their contributions are spread across multiple faculties, reflecting the breadth of a large research university rather than a single lab's focus.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2015–2018, Rutgers was heavily focused on digital infrastructure — 5G wireless networks, radio resource management, and industrial asset management — alongside early biomedical work in organ-on-chip technology. From 2019 onward, the balance shifted decisively toward life sciences and pharmaceutical research: drug delivery, biopharmaceutics, epilepsy therapeutics, and precision oncology became dominant themes. The recent portfolio also diversified into unexpected directions like Antarctic ecosystem science, medieval cultural heritage, and theoretical computer science, suggesting multiple independent research groups engaging with EU funding.

Rutgers is pivoting from digital/ICT toward life sciences and translational medicine in its EU collaborations, making them an increasingly relevant partner for health and pharmaceutical consortia seeking US-based expertise.

How they like to work

Rutgers never coordinates H2020 projects — all 18 participations are as partner, participant, or international third party, which is typical for a non-EU institution that cannot lead EU-funded consortia. With 154 unique partners across 32 countries, they operate as a well-connected but non-leading contributor, joining large consortia where US-based expertise adds transatlantic value. Their wide spread of topics and partners suggests multiple independent research groups at the university, each maintaining their own European networks rather than a centralized EU engagement strategy.

Exceptionally broad network for a non-EU institution: 154 unique partners across 32 countries, indicating deep integration into European research ecosystems across multiple disciplines. The geographic spread is global rather than concentrated in any single European region.

What sets them apart

As one of the top US public research universities, Rutgers brings something most EU consortia cannot source internally: established American research infrastructure, regulatory perspective, and access to US industry networks. Their dual strength in both ICT and biomedical sciences — rare in a single partner — makes them versatile for interdisciplinary projects. For consortium builders, Rutgers offers a credible transatlantic dimension that strengthens proposals, particularly for calls that explicitly require or value international cooperation with the US.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CISTEM
  Five-year project on heart-on-chip using iPSC technology for personalized medicine in rare diseases — represents Rutgers' deepest biomedical engagement in H2020.
• METIS-II
  Flagship 5G research initiative defining next-generation mobile network architecture, with Rutgers contributing radio resource management and techno-economic analysis.
• RESCUER
  One of only two projects where Rutgers received direct EC funding (EUR 8,000), focused on combinatorial therapies for breast cancer resistance — signals a funded commitment rather than in-kind participation.