ICA Excellence Award

Calls hand been made for nominations for the ICA Excellence Award in each of the following three categories:

• ICA Excellence Award – Lifetime Achievements
• ICA Excellence Award – Early-Stage Academic
• ICA Excellence Award – Networking

The Awards were presented at the time of the ICA Rectors and Deans forum held on 16 October, 2025 at BOKU university, Vienna, Austria 

Award winners and presenters

Shaping Europe’s Bioeconomy Strategy: Contributions from European Life Science Universities

The 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 has made a call for evidence and public consultation to take into account the perspectives of stakeholders, especially young people, SMEs (including start-ups), non-governmental organisations, trade unions, and primary producers. 

ICA has responded to the call by submitting the attached document on 23 June
🟢 We believe that integrating sustainability, circularity, and resilience into the bioeconomy is key to tackling global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and food system resilience.
🟢 Our Life Science Universities are ready to drive innovation, provide evidence-based knowledge for policymaking, and equip future professionals with the interdisciplinary skills needed for Europe’s green and digital transitions.

Recommendations for Education Pathways Initiatives to Support Transformations to the Bioeconomy

The ICA Community of Practice for Bioeconomy Education in Europe (ICA-CoP Bio-Edu) recognises the statements in the call document of skills shortages as the new green jobs come on stream and expand as the EU transforms towards the Bioeconomy. Consequently ICA-CoP Bio-Edu proposes that in the new Bioeconomy Strategy the following actions should be taken by the European Commission under the guidance of a Bioeconomy Skills Observatory, to address the skills shortages::

1. Reinforcing Interdisciplinarity in curricula
2. Lifelong Learning – collaboration between industry and universities
3. Learning communities driving the transformations to the bioeconomy

Read the full recommendations of the ICA-CoP Bio-Edu submission in the attached submission document

The ICA Community of Practice for Bioeconomy Education in Europe (ICA-CoP Bio-Edu) is a Committee of the Board of ICA.  More information about ICA-CoP Bio-Edu can be found here

The ICA General Assembly 2025

was held online on 18 June from 13.00 - 15.00 CEST

Representation at the General Assembly

The General Assembly is open to all staff and students of ICA Member Institutions, and all are warmly invited to attend. The Assembly is considered duly constituted when at least one-third of the Member Institutions are represented.

Registration is closed

Maria Knutson-Wedel, President of ICA, presemted the annual report on activities during 2024 and 2025 on behalf of the ICA Board.