THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

Their core work

The University of California system — encompassing UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, and UC Irvine — is one of the world's premier public research university networks. In the H2020 context, UC primarily serves as a transatlantic host and training destination for European researchers through Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowships and staff exchanges. Its campuses provide access to world-class laboratories, interdisciplinary research environments, and deep expertise spanning life sciences, physical sciences, environmental research, and data science. With 218 H2020 participations across extraordinarily diverse fields, UC acts as a knowledge bridge connecting European consortia with American research infrastructure and talent.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the earlier period (2015–2018), UC's H2020 involvement centered on fundamental science — machine learning methods, genetics, epigenetics, embodied cognition, and particle physics. The later period (2019–2022) shows a marked shift toward applied life sciences and sustainability: metabolomics, biomarkers, microbial ecology, DNA nanotechnology, and climate change adaptation now dominate. This evolution mirrors a broader trend at UC campuses toward translational research that bridges computational methods with biological and environmental applications.

UC is moving from pure fundamental research toward translational bioscience and climate-related work, making it increasingly relevant for consortia targeting health diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and bio-based innovation.

How they like to work

UC never coordinates H2020 projects (0 out of 218) — as a US institution, it participates as a partner or, overwhelmingly, as a third party hosting MSCA fellows and exchange researchers. With 856 unique consortium partners across 70 countries, UC is a massive hub rather than a loyal repeat-partner organization. This means working with UC is straightforward: they provide world-class facilities and mentorship for visiting researchers, but project leadership and administrative burden stay with the European coordinator.

UC has collaborated with 856 unique partners across 70 countries, making it one of the most broadly connected non-European entities in H2020. Its network spans virtually every EU member state plus associated countries, with connections heavily weighted toward MSCA mobility programs linking European universities to UC campuses.

What sets them apart

As a multi-campus US university system, UC offers European consortia something few partners can: access to the American research ecosystem — top-tier labs, Silicon Valley proximity (UCSD, UCLA, UCSB), agricultural research stations (UC Davis), and marine science facilities (UCSC, Scripps at UCSD) — all through a single legal entity. Their 180+ MSCA participations make them the go-to transatlantic host for researcher mobility, with proven administrative capacity to handle EU fellowship requirements despite being outside Europe. For any consortium needing a credible US partner with broad disciplinary coverage, UC is the lowest-risk, highest-prestige choice available.

Highlights from their portfolio

• METASPACE
  One of UC's largest funded participations (EUR 297,750) in spatial metabolomics bioinformatics — represents their strength at the intersection of data science and life sciences.
• AMVA4NewPhysics
  Large multi-year consortium applying advanced multivariate analysis to LHC particle physics, showcasing UC's role in big-science international collaborations.
• MOTOR SIMULATION
  Interdisciplinary neuroscience project combining ECoG, EEG, and lesion studies to investigate mirror neurons — exemplifies UC's cognitive science depth and willingness to host methodologically ambitious fellows.