UNIVERSIDAD DE CADIZ

Their core work

The University of Cadiz is a Spanish public university with a strong commitment to science communication, public engagement, and responsible research. Through its long-running "Open Researchers" series and STIMEY project, UCA has built significant capacity in making science accessible to the public and promoting STEM education. Beyond outreach, the university contributes applied research in areas ranging from materials science and concrete conservation to biorefinery processes, marine litter assessment, and diabetes-related neurodegeneration. Its research portfolio reflects a broad, multidisciplinary institution where science-society interaction is as central as laboratory work.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In its early H2020 period (2014-2018), UCA's portfolio was dominated by science outreach and STEM education — the recurring Open Researchers events, the flagship STIMEY coordination, and keywords like "scientific vocations," "equal opportunities," and "STEM" defined their identity. From 2019 onward, while maintaining the public engagement thread, UCA diversified significantly into applied research: circular bioeconomy (BIZENTE, ALEHOOP), health sciences (RECOGNISED, PARENT, HaPpY), marine environmental monitoring (LitRivus), and social sciences (SIGNAL-LANDSCAPE, reSEArch-EU). The university has clearly moved from being primarily a science-society bridge toward becoming a broader multidisciplinary research actor with growing applied research ambitions.

UCA is expanding from its science communication base into applied bioeconomy, health, and environmental research — expect growing capacity in circular materials and marine science aligned with Green Deal priorities.

How they like to work

UCA operates primarily as a consortium partner (18 of 25 projects), joining diverse teams rather than leading them, though it has coordinated 7 projects — typically mid-sized CSA and MSCA actions. With 235 unique partners across 30 countries, UCA maintains a broad, non-exclusive network rather than relying on repeat partnerships. This makes them an accessible and experienced partner for new consortia, comfortable working in both large infrastructure projects (ESTEEM3) and small focused actions.

UCA has collaborated with 235 unique partners across 30 countries, reflecting a wide European network typical of an active mid-sized university. As a southern Spanish institution, it likely has strong connections in the Mediterranean region while maintaining reach across the EU.

What sets them apart

UCA stands out for its deep, sustained investment in science-society interaction — few universities have run public engagement programs as consistently across the entire H2020 period. This makes them an ideal partner for projects requiring strong dissemination, citizen science components, or RRI expertise. Their coastal location in Cadiz also gives them natural credibility in marine and maritime research, evidenced by the LitRivus coordination on riverine plastics.

Highlights from their portfolio

• STIMEY
  Largest project by far (EUR 1.8M, coordinator) — a flagship STEM education initiative combining robotics, gaming, and teacher training for young people.
• InnovaConcrete
  Coordinated a EUR 601K project on conserving 20th-century concrete heritage — an unusual niche combining materials science with cultural preservation.
• RECOGNISED
  Addresses an underexplored link between type 2 diabetes and cognitive decline, positioning UCA in a high-impact health research area with aging-population relevance.