The Power of WAITRO in Global Collaboration: TISTR’s Opportunity in Horizon 2020 – SOILGUARD Project as a Case

The World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organizations (WAITRO) is a resourceful platform for global collaboration, uniting research and technology organizations (RTOs) across continents to address pressing challenges through innovation. From the perspective of most RTOs, especially those outside the EU, accessing international public funding can be challenging due to geographical and administrative barriers.

Here we present the case of the creation in EU and non-EU partnership by participating an EU-Horizon program SOILGUARD, which unlocks new opportunities for all parties—connecting organizations, fostering collaborations, and securing funding for innovative research., and contribute to the project with Asia, Africa, and South America knowledge on sustainable environment and social benefits created by guarding biodiversity through sustainable land management under climate change challenges.

SOILGUARD Project Background

SOILGUARD is a Horizon 2020 project (2021–2025) funded by the European Union. It aims to co-create a conceptual and analytical framework for future global assessments of soil biodiversity and ecosystem services. Key innovations include the SOILGUARD Network of Knowledge and the SOILGUARDIANS App, both developed to promote sustainable practices and provide tools to mitigate biodiversity loss and enhance soil health.

While SOILGUARD primarily focuses on the European context, it has eventually gathered the efforts of 25 partner institutes across 17 countries. Leitat Technological Center (LEITAT, Spain), WAITRO’s Regional Focal Point in Europe, is among the founders of this project and identified the value of involving diversified perspectives to reflect the importance of integrating varied ecological contexts and expertise to enrich the project’s global impact. Hence, LEITAT extended invitations to non-EU RTOs through the WAITRO network and took the coordination role. As a result, Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR, Thailand) and University of Yaoundé I (UY1, Cameroon) were invited to join SOILGUARD.

Support from EU RFP

Capability-building initiatives and on-site and online workshops have been organized promptly to raise awareness and engage researchers across the WAITRO network. With its know-how in accessing, operating, and managing EU-funded projects, LEITAT has contributed to the WAITRO network through sharing and training sessions, matchmaking, and the formation of international consortia over the past years, to amplify opportunities for WAITRO members from different regions to access the EU-funded research programs, including Horizon Europe.

Contribution of a non-EU RTO

With its biodiversity and sustainable agriculture expertise, TISTR, WAITRO member based in Thailand, exemplifies the potential of international collaboration. Before joining the SOILDGUARD project, TISTR had already been renowned for active participation in several programs through the WAITRO network, including initiatives hosted by LEITAT on promoting engagement with EU-funded research projects. For biodiversity research, TISTR has demonstrated strong capabilities across various fields, particularly through its close connections with local farming communities and its appropriate technological capacity—making it a valuable contributor to global efforts. These strengths ultimately led to TISTR’s inclusion in SOILGUARD.

Several key factors drove TISTR’s decision to participate in SOILGUARD:

• Gain access to EU Funding and Advanced Research Tools: Participation in SOILGUARD provided TISTR with valuable resources and methodologies that had previously been less accessible.

• Contribute to global solution with local knowledge: TISTR’s deep understanding of Thailand’s unique ecosystems and agricultural practices offered invaluable insights into the project.

• Build capacity in international partnership: Collaboration with EU partners enabled knowledge exchange and skills development, strengthening TISTR’s research capabilities.

• Elevate international profile: Participating in a high-profile EU project helped raise TISTR’s visibility and reputation on the global stage.

In return, the inclusion of non-EU partners like TISTR and UY1 (University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon) helped fill critical gaps in research design and hence enriched SOILGUARD by expanding its global biodiversity database — particularly with data from underrepresented ecosystems in Southeast Asia and Africa.

Collaboration in Action

While SOILGUARD totally consists of 9 technical work packages, TISTR has played a multi-faceted role across 5 work packages (WP1, WP2, WP6, WP7, WP8). These support the development of strategic research frameworks, contribute field data on Thailand’s soil degradation, and collaborate in biodiversity analysis. TISTR also promotes awareness through communication activities, coordinates administrative reporting, and actively engages in international project meetings to ensure the successful implementation of the project’s objectives.

Gains for TISTR

Through its participation in the project, TISTR has gained tangible benefits such as increased opportunities for future research funding, enhanced research capabilities through technology and knowledge transfer, and strengthened local conservation efforts using newly developed tools and sustainable good practices. In addition, the collaboration has brought intangible benefits, including expanded professional networks and elevated institutional reputation.

Broader Impact

TISTR’s collaboration with SOILGUARD underscores the significance of including non-EU institutions in EU-funded projects. Such inclusivity ensures diverse perspectives and data, which is crucial for addressing global challenges. The success of this partnership paves the way for accessing EU funding in the future, promoting visibility of Thai research institutions in the global research arena. This journey serves as a model for other non-EU institutions within the WAITRO network, inspiring them to pursue international partnerships for mutual benefit.

Conclusion: A Blueprint for the Future

TISTR’s experience with SOILGUARD highlights the transformative power of cross-border collaboration in addressing global challenges like biodiversity loss and climate change. It showcases the value of being part of the WAITRO family, where shared knowledge, complementary expertise, and collective resources contribute to impactful, real-world solutions. This story calls for more inclusive research frameworks that bridge gaps between institutions across regions, fostering a united front in the effort to safeguard our planet’s biodiversity and green economy.

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About SOILGUARD

SOILGUARD is an ambitious EU-funded project addressing the urgent need to conserve soil biodiversity amid escalating land degradation and climate change. Unsustainable land use threatens ecosystems and human well-being, necessitating global action to promote soil biodiversity as a nature-based solution.

The project develops a groundbreaking framework to assess soil biodiversity’s role in ecosystem health and human welfare, aiming to set a global standard for sustainable soil management. Through innovative experiments across diverse biomes and degradation gradients, SOILGUARD quantifies the impacts of poor soil practices while simulating climate change effects.

— Video recording of seminar “Capacity Building Workshop on Soil Protection for Thai Soilguardians”:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16fKsr6bZ3/

— For more information: https://soilguard-h2020.eu/

*This article was provided by TISTR and edited by WAITRO. For more information, please contact Ms Pimprapai Supornrat, Senior International Relations Officer at TISTR