The official kickoff of the brand-new MSCA PHOENIX project took place in Ghent on July 1st, marking the start of a 48-month initiative led by HOMEOTECH Co following an outstanding proposal evaluation score of 97.60%. Funded by the European Union’s prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), the project’s core objective is to establish and operate a coordinated scientific and technical network dedicated to preserving three endemic, threatened palm species: Phoenix theophrasti (Greece/Türkiye), Phoenix canariensis (Canary Islands), and Phoenix atlantica (Cape Verde). By addressing urgent environmental threats and safeguarding traditional community knowledge, MSCA PHOENIX aims to secure the long-term survival and ecological sustainability of these iconic species.
Central to the project’s framework is a dynamic program of staff secondments designed to foster knowledge transfer and collaborative research among international experts. The consortium brings together key partners, including HOMEOTECH Co and CIHEAM MAICh (Greece), GESTION Y PLANEAMIENTO TERRITORIAL Y MEDIOAMBIENTAL, S.A. and Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain), Akdeniz University and ANTOK ANTALYA (Türkiye), and Instituto Nacional de Investigação e Desenvolvimento Agrário-INIDA (Cape Verde). Beyond driving scientific advancements, these international exchanges offer researchers valuable opportunities to experience new working environments, build enduring global synergies, and embrace professional diversity.