The REENFORCE project, led by the Agricultural University of Athens, aims to create a long-lasting cross-sectoral collaboration, to

empower the R&I human capital base, increase the cross-sectoral collaboration and enhance the excellence of research performing

organisations in the Widening countries of Greece and Portugal. The project’ thematic area lies in sustainable crop protection, more

specifically in the topics of: (i) bio-based solutions and low-risk pesticides, (ii) ecotoxicology assessment of applied substances and (iii)

smart spraying applications. REENFORCE addresses Action 4 of the ERA Policy Agenda 2022-2024, while it supports Europe's twin

green and digital transition, in the context of agriculture and sustainable crop protection. REENFORCE consortium consists of 4

academic organisations, 4 private companies and 1 competence centre from two Widening countries (Greece and Portugal) and one

non-Widening country (Belgium), specialising in the fields of bio-based, low-risk and smart application of pesticides. REENFORCE will

map relevant needs and knowledge gaps in R&I and cross-sectoral collaborative research in Widening countries, defining the

requirements for upskilling human capital and enhancing research organisations' excellence, following business sector demands. It

will develop specialised training material, and will conduct multiple training activities (face-to-face & online), cross-border and crosssectoral

secondments of R&I talents (in the context of joint research studies and shared use of infrastructure), providing opportunities

for personal career development. REENFORCE will propose best practices, institutional reforms and policy recommendations, to

increase the excellence of R&I, and research support, in Widening countries, and will widely promote the economic, environmental

and societal benefits of bio-based, low-risk and smart application of pesticides.