Major Romanian research university bridging ecosystem science, plasma catalysis for CO2 recycling, and social sciences across 59 partner countries.
The University of Bucharest is a major Romanian research university with broad capabilities spanning environmental science, chemistry, and social sciences. In H2020, they contribute expertise in ecosystem services mapping, long-term ecological monitoring (through the eLTER infrastructure network), plasma catalysis and CO2 recycling, and cultural/social research across post-Soviet and European contexts. They serve as a key Romanian node in pan-European research infrastructures and training networks, while also building capacity in green chemistry and catalysis research.
Sustained involvement across eLTER, Advance_eLTER, eLTER PPP, eLTER PLUS, and ECOPOTENTIAL — spanning the full lifecycle of Europe's long-term ecosystem research infrastructure.
PIONEER (plasma catalysis for CO2 recycling), CALSOL (carbon-based artificial leaf for solar fuel), and CCIMC (molecular catalysis and ligand design) show a growing chemistry cluster.
ESMERALDA (ecosystem services mapping), ECOPOTENTIAL (Earth observations for ecosystems), and MINATURA 2020 (mineral deposits framework) cover environmental assessment.
SHADOW (informal economies in post-Soviet regions), COURAGE (cultural heritage of dissent), DETECt (crime narratives), YMOBILITY (youth mobility), and REDEM (democracy in crisis).
RoTalkScience, HSciRO, DoReMi-RO (all Researchers' Night events), and ReCoN-nect (Green Deal communication) show consistent public engagement work.
RIS4CIVIS (research strategy for the CIVIS university alliance) and ATHENA (gender equality plans) focus on institutional transformation.
In the early H2020 period (2014–2018), the university focused heavily on environmental research — ecosystem services mapping, biodiversity, Earth observations, and building the eLTER research infrastructure — alongside social sciences and cultural studies projects. From 2019 onward, a clear shift toward chemistry and catalysis emerged: plasma-driven CO2 recycling (PIONEER), solar fuel production (CALSOL), molecular catalysis (CCIMC), and nuclear data applications (SANDA). The most recent projects (2020–2022) also show growing engagement in institutional reform and university alliance building through RIS4CIVIS and ATHENA.
Moving from observational environmental science toward applied chemistry for energy transition (CO2 valorization, hydrogen, plasma catalysis), while also positioning itself within European university alliances like CIVIS.
Overwhelmingly a consortium partner (27 of 30 projects), with only 3 coordinator roles — all in focused research topics (medieval history, solar fuels, magnetic molecules). They operate in large multinational consortia, evidenced by 387 unique partners across 59 countries, indicating a broad but not leadership-heavy network position. This is a reliable, well-connected partner that contributes specialist knowledge rather than driving project direction.
Exceptionally wide network with 387 unique consortium partners across 59 countries, making them one of the most broadly connected Romanian universities in H2020. Their geographic spread covers all of Europe plus connections to Central Asia, the Caucasus, and global research networks through the eLTER infrastructure.
Among Romanian universities, UB stands out for its rare combination of environmental research infrastructure expertise (as a long-term eLTER partner) and emerging plasma catalysis capabilities for CO2 recycling — a combination few Eastern European universities offer. Their membership in the CIVIS European university alliance (with top institutions like Aix-Marseille and Sapienza) signals growing institutional ambition. For consortium builders targeting Romania, UB offers both deep environmental science credentials and an expanding chemistry portfolio with direct relevance to the Green Deal.
