Dear ICA Members,
As we turn the page to a new year, we have much to reflect upon, celebrate, and look forward to as Europe’s largest united community of life science universities.
In 2024, ICA achieved several significant milestones. Together, we drove important discussions on sustainability, innovation and the future of life sciences education. We had a special opportunity to clarify and communicate our role as life science universities in 2024 through EUs high level” Strategic Dialogue on the Future of European Agriculture and Forestry”. As an outcome of these efforts, the ICA commitment to take the strategic dialogue on the future of EU agriculture further and ICA Communiqué were prepared, reflecting the discussions and commitments of our members to support and advance the dialogue.
Through various initiatives such as the ICA Rectors and Deans Forum 2024, hosted by the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, along with pre-forum workshops, webinars, and other events organized by ICA Board committees on education, we continue to join forces to support each other’s mission and to make an impact. Many of us were there and I think we all highly appreciated the hospitality of the faculty and the possibility to learn from each other as well as the speakers. For me, I am already in the process of making reality of some of the new ideas I got, and I really appreciate the contact with old and new friends.
Our active engagement in EU Strategic Leadership Groups on Biodiversity and Climate, and Bioeconomy, as well as participation in EU Task Forces on Nature-based solutions in Education, and Policy, alongside our commitments to the Horizon Europe-funded project Education & Nature-Based Solutions: bending the curve for biodiversity (eNaBlS) and collaborations with various partnerships and networks, are driving interdisciplinary and institutional cooperation.
These efforts are strengthening the role of life sciences in tackling global challenges like food security, climate change, and biodiversity loss. I am deeply proud of the contributions made by our members and committees in advancing ICA’s vision, mission and essentials, and enhancing the societal impact of our work.
A significant event for ICA in the coming years, and a really interesting day, was ICA Strategic session on September 2024. It gathered ICA board members and representatives from ICA Board and Standing committees to discuss shared ICA vision and ICA strategic priorities for 2025-2027.
FUTURE FOCUS
Looking ahead to 2025, I am excited about the opportunities that lie before us. We, as life science universities, are pivotal in addressing the pressing challenges of our time. We can, through ICA, continue to build bridges between academia, industry, and policy to drive meaningful change. Our commitment to promoting interdisciplinarity, innovation and visibility of our members continues to remain at the forefront of ICA's strategic agenda.
In this spirit, I am pleased to announce some key initiatives for the coming year:
- ICA Rectors and Deans Forum 2025 will be held on 16-17 October at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU). This flagship event serve as a vital platform for our community to come together, exchange knowledge, and collectively address complex global challenges by finding new knowledge or science-driven solutions. It will be an opportunity to foster collaboration, share best practices, and reinforce our shared commitment to science, education, innovation and sustainability in life sciences. Looking forward seeing you!
- Workshops, Webinars, and Seminar Series by the ICA Board Committees. Continuing our tradition of offering high-quality professional development and knowledge-sharing opportunities, our standing and board committees will organize a range of workshops, webinars, and seminars. ICA-Edu will remain dedicated to advancing the integration of generative AI in higher education. Meanwhile, ICA-CoP Bio-Edu will concentrate on fostering collaboration between universities, industry, and government to support lifelong learning in the corporate sector.
Visit the ICA website here and share it widely to maximize awareness at your university about the extensive opportunities for learning from one another. - ICA Excellence Award 2025. We are proud to announce the ICA Excellence Award 2025, which will recognize outstanding contributions from our members in advancing life sciences education, research, and innovation. This award will celebrate the remarkable achievements within our network and inspire further excellence. More about the call for for nominations, here.
- Biodiversity Challenge 2025 for ICA Universities. It is a already a 3rd year, that Wageningen University & Research together with ICA’s support organise Biodiversity Challenge for ICA member universities to promote biodiversity conservation, fostering a culture of active participation and impact-driven outcomes. It is not only a possibility to understand more about the campus biodiversity, but also a great opportunity to support local engagement and friendships among students and surrounding society. The call is and previous years experiences can be found here.
- Strengthening ICA’s thought leadership and representation in EU-wide working groups and committees. Empowering our networks to tackle challenges in education, research, and innovation can drive progress both locally and globally. I invite all members to take the possibility to actively participate in these efforts. As said: “no man (university) is an island”. Together, we can achieve impact.
- Enhanced Communication and Engagement: We are committed to improving communication and collaboration between the ICA Board, standing committees, and ICA members. To achieve this, we are introducing new pathways for seamless information sharing and interaction, including the development of a digital platform for knowledge exchange. Additionally, we will launch regular newsletters for members. These initiatives will strengthen our collective efforts and ensure all members remain well-informed and connected. Our joint knowledge base can also be much better by collective intelligence, so if you have news to share, please e-mail ICA Secretariat.
As always, the strength of ICA lies in its members. Your commitment, expertise, and passion drive our collective mission forward. I encourage you to actively engage in ICA’s activities throughout the year, share your ideas, and collaborate with peers across the network. Working together, we can achieve remarkable outcomes, and ICA can continue to be of use to your university.
Finally, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our members who have dedicated their time and energy to advancing ICA’s vision. It is through your unwavering support that ICA continues to thrive as a leading voice in European life sciences.
As we embark on this new year, let us reaffirm our shared commitment to advancing knowledge, fostering innovation, and making a difference in the world through life sciences.
Warm regards from cold Sweden!
Maria Wedel
ICA president and Rector, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
11 February 2025