Research and Innovation for the sustainable use of water
ICRA has formalized a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of California to strengthen international scientific collaboration in strategic areas such as water resources management, water quality, drought resilience, wildfire impacts, and climate change adaptation. The agreement was ratified during the institutional visit to the United States by the President of the Government of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, in an event attended by Glenda Humiston, Vice President of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), and Erik Porse, Director of the California Institute for Water Resources (CIWR).
The ratification of this collaboration represents an important step toward strengthening ties between Catalonia and California, two territories that share similar environmental challenges related to water scarcity, pressure on ecosystems, and the need to accelerate climate adaptation strategies. During the signing ceremony, ICRA Director Vicenç Acuña Salazar highlighted these similarities between both territories: “We share very similar realities: increasing water scarcity, more frequent droughts, and growing pressure on ecosystems, agriculture, and cities. Precisely because of this, we have a unique opportunity to learn from one another.”
The agreement opens the door to new opportunities for scientific exchange and researcher mobility between both institutions, with the aim of promoting joint projects, research stays, shared doctoral theses, and new international partnerships between universities and research centers.
En In this context, Acuña met with the dean and vice dean of the Rausser College of Natural Resources at the University of California, Berkeley to work on the implementation of the memorandum of understanding and explore new synergies between the Catalan research system and the American university. During the meeting, several collaboration mechanisms were defined to facilitate researcher mobility, promote joint projects, and strengthen institutional and scientific ties between both ecosystems.
At the same time, ICRA is working together with the Department of Research and Universities of the Government of Catalonia to promote a specific researcher exchange program between Catalonia and California, with stays in both directions to foster knowledge transfer and the creation of new scientific collaborations..
The agreement also foresees the development of stable cooperation mechanisms, such as thematic workshops, working groups, hybrid exchanges, and joint participation in international platforms and events related to water research and sustainability. For ICRA, this collaboration represents an opportunity to expand its international projection and contribute to the development of science-based solutions to address major global challenges related to water and climate change.
