THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES U WI*

Their core work

The University of the West Indies is a major Caribbean research university contributing to EU-funded projects across public health, environmental science, and EU-Latin America-Caribbean policy dialogue. Their H2020 work spans Zika virus preparedness and maternal-paediatric health, trace mineral nutrition and aging biology, marine ecosystem services, and cultural diplomacy between Europe and Latin America/Caribbean. They bring a distinct Caribbean perspective and regional expertise to international consortia, particularly on tropical disease response, coastal ecosystem management, and South-South-North cooperation frameworks.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

UWI's early H2020 engagement (2016-2017) centered on EU-Latin America-Caribbean diplomatic and cultural cooperation (EULAC Focus, EU-LAC-MUSEUMS) and emergency infectious disease response to the Zika epidemic (ZIKAction). Their later projects (2017-2020 onward) shifted toward life sciences fundamentals — trace mineral biology and microbiota — and environmental science, particularly marine coastal ecosystems and nature-based solutions. This reflects a move from policy-driven and crisis-response work toward deeper scientific research in health and environment.

UWI is shifting from policy coordination roles toward substantive scientific contributions in environmental and biomedical research, making them increasingly relevant for climate adaptation and tropical health consortia.

How they like to work

UWI joins consortia exclusively as a participant or third party — they have never coordinated an H2020 project. They operate within large consortia (80 unique partners across 27 countries), indicating they are sought after for their Caribbean regional expertise rather than leading project design. Their participation across very different thematic areas suggests they are a versatile partner valued for geographic and disciplinary diversity rather than deep specialization in one domain.

UWI has collaborated with 80 unique partners across 27 countries, giving them a remarkably wide network for a Caribbean institution. Their connections span Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean, providing consortium builders with a bridge to CELAC-region research communities.

What sets them apart

UWI is one of very few Caribbean universities active in Horizon 2020, making them a rare partner for any consortium seeking geographic diversity or Caribbean-region expertise. Their combination of tropical public health experience (Zika), marine coastal science, and deep EU-CELAC policy networks is difficult to replicate. For projects requiring fieldwork, data collection, or policy engagement in the Caribbean basin, UWI is an essential contact.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ZIKAction
  By far their largest grant (EUR 832K), addressing the urgent Zika epidemic with a focus on maternal-paediatric transmission — demonstrates capacity for large-scale health emergency research.
• MaCoBioS
  Their most recent project (2020-2024) on marine coastal ecosystems and nature-based solutions signals a strategic move into climate adaptation science.
• EU-LAC-MUSEUMS
  A five-year project on museum sustainability across Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean — highlights UWI's role as a cultural bridge between regions.