Objectives

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 1 (SO1)

Achieve higher levels of scientific excellence by developing a Scientific Agenda aligned with European, national and regional R&D&I policies and priorities.

The Institute is committed to scientific excellence, as well as to promoting research that drives the transition towards more sustainable, secure, resilient and circular agri-food systems.

The following commitments have been established to this end.

  • Develop a scientific agenda structured around a limited number of research priorities for the next four years. This agenda should take the form of a portfolio of interdisciplinary projects of a strategic nature that have the capacity to impact the Institute’s activity.
  • Encourage collaboration among the Institute’s research staff.
  • Boost participation and leadership in R&D&I projects by preparing project applications that focus on the priorities and themes of the Scientific Agenda, as well as the identified project portfolio.
  • Strengthen the infrastructure, equipment and technical resources necessary for excellent research, while promoting the efficient management and complementarity of inter-campus infrastructure and avoiding duplication and overlap in existing capacities.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 2 (SO2)

Develop, retain and attract talent.

The challenge concerning talent and human resources is to build a team whose work contributes to excellent research.

To this end, it is necessary to:

  • Attract and recruit new and senior talent that is aligned with the research priorities set out in the Scientific Agenda, as well as individuals with leadership potential in emerging fields.
  • Promote the training of research staff by developing our own programmes for competitive scientific careers.
  • Meet the need for technical and management support staff.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 3 (SO3)

Achieve a greater impact from the research carried out in the Galician region.

  • Generate new knowledge and solutions in response to major global challenges affecting the food system, by developing a scientific agenda that addresses the needs of the agri-food sector.a agroalimentario
  • Develop strategic relationships with other R&D&I units in the Galician agri-food sector for the mutualisation of infrastructure and the development of joint research projects, as well as with research centres in the fields of information and communication technology (AtlanTIC) and the social sciences (ECOBAS).
  • Improve the transfer of knowledge to the socio-economic environment through the implementation of collaborative projects and research contracts. To this end, establish priority alliances with technology centres and specialised R&D units close to the business community (ANFACO, CETECA, the DATALIFE Digital Innovation Hub, etc.).

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 4 (SO4)

Position and raise the visibility of the Institute as a leading center in the field of Agroecology and Food.

  • Raise awareness of the activities carried out by the Institute’s research staff: ongoing projects, justification of their importance, personnel involved, etc.
  • Disseminate scientific work and the need to promote a transition toward more sustainable, safe, resilient, and circular agri-food systems so that society values the work carried out at the Institute.
  • Develop attractive and specialized training focused on the Institute’s scientific and technological objectives to train new research staff as well as the professionals who will lead the Galician agri-food sector.
  • Strengthen existing relationships and promote new connections with the main stakeholders of the Galician agri-food system (companies, administrations, cooperatives, clusters, designation of origin agencies, etc.).

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 5 (OE5)

Creation of the Iberian Food Laboratory with the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB)

This Institute embraces the institutional challenge and commitment of the University of Vigo. It aims to strengthen the positioning and international visibility of the Galicia-Northern Portugal Euroregion, which is recognised as a bioregion specialising in the transition to safe, sustainable and resilient food systems. Additionally, the Institute seeks to establish the Euroregion as a benchmark for R&D&I in agri-food systems.

To this end, the following objectives are pursued:

  • Develop joint multidisciplinary research projects between the Institute and the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB).
  • Define collaborative strategies for the mobility and training of research staff.
  • Establish alliances to promote a stronger joint presence in European programs.