This strategic institutional partnership brings together the research capacity and expertise at the University of California at Berkeley (UCB) and Ghent University to explore and test interdisciplinary responses to global challenges. This partnership builds on the legitimacy that all partners have demonstrated through their excellent research and technical collaboration with the public and private sector and international organizations. This partnership uses the complementary research forces in the two academic communities as a leverage to deliver a high-quality research program and provide sustainable and impactful scientific and real-world results.