SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

Their core work

The Smithsonian Institution, through its National Museum of Natural History, is one of the world's largest natural history research and collections institutions, housing over 148 million specimens and artifacts. In H2020, they contribute deep expertise in biodiversity science, heritage conservation, and digital collections infrastructure to European research consortia. Their work spans from proteomics-based analysis of archaeological textiles to large-scale digitisation of natural history collections, and from minority language preservation to statistical methods for astronomy. They serve as a critical non-European knowledge partner bringing unmatched collections access and curatorial expertise to EU projects.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 participation (2016–2018), the Smithsonian engaged primarily in social sciences and participatory humanities — language revitalization, public memory, digital media, and community empowerment. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward natural sciences infrastructure: biodiversity collections, digitisation, taxonomy, heritage science, and analytical chemistry for archaeological materials. This evolution suggests the institution moved from exploratory engagement with EU humanities networks toward deeper integration into Europe's research infrastructure landscape, particularly around ESFRI-linked collections initiatives.

The Smithsonian is increasingly positioning itself as a transatlantic collections and heritage science partner for major European research infrastructures like DiSSCo and IPERION HS.

How they like to work

The Smithsonian never coordinates H2020 projects — they join as a partner or third-party contributor, which is typical for non-European institutions participating in EU framework programmes. With 132 unique consortium partners across 30 countries, they operate as a highly networked specialist contributor rather than a project driver. Their participation in large infrastructure projects (SYNTHESYS PLUS, IPERION HS) alongside targeted MSCA fellowships shows they are comfortable in both massive consortia and focused research exchanges.

Exceptionally broad network for a non-EU institution: 132 unique partners across 30 countries, reflecting their role in large European research infrastructure consortia. Their reach spans well beyond typical US-EU bilateral links into a genuinely pan-European and global web of museum, university, and research institute connections.

What sets them apart

The Smithsonian brings something no European partner can replicate: access to one of the world's largest and most diverse natural history and cultural collections, combined with the research capacity of a major institution. For EU consortia, they provide a critical transatlantic dimension — both for benchmarking European collections infrastructure against global standards and for enabling truly worldwide biodiversity and heritage research. Their dual strength in hard science (proteomics, taxonomy, digitisation) and engaged humanities (participatory research, community empowerment) makes them an unusually versatile partner.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SYNTHESYS PLUS
  Major ESFRI-linked infrastructure project for digitising and integrating Europe's natural history collections — the Smithsonian's participation signals transatlantic alignment on biodiversity data standards.
• PARCA
  Highly specialized project combining proteomics with archaeological textile analysis — an unusual and technically demanding intersection of analytical chemistry and heritage conservation.
• IPERION HS
  Flagship European heritage science infrastructure integrating platforms across the continent — the Smithsonian's role underscores their standing as a global heritage science partner.