EBM Focus Area: Biodiversity, Agroecology, Bioeconomy, and Wildlife Resources

Main Objective:  Integration of highly qualified human resources at EBM

Promoting Organization: EBM – Associação Estação Biológica de Mértola

Calendar: november 2025 – october 2028

Funding Programme: Alentejo Regional Programme 2030
(Operation Code: ALT2030-FSE+-01466100)

• Total Eligible Cost | 500 717,60€
• Funding | 425 609,96€
• Private Contribution | 75 107,64€

Implementation area:  Mértola, Baixo Alentejo

The R4 ID&T operation aims to strengthen the capacity of the Mértola Biological Station (CVTT) and the Baixo Alentejo region through the reinforcement of highly qualified human resources, contributing to the implementation of the regional R&I agenda in alignment with the Alentejo 2030 RIS3 (EREI Alentejo 2030). The proposal foresees the recruitment of four human resources (three at CITE level 8 and one at CITE level 7), with the objective of consolidating and expanding the scientific, technical and innovation capacity of the CVTT in its strategic technology transfer domains: Biodiversity, Agroecology, Bioeconomy and Wild Resources, with particular emphasis on game resources.
Through this reinforcement of competencies, the project aims to consolidate these domains as strategic vectors of territorial differentiation, ensuring the production of relevant scientific knowledge and its effective transfer to companies and other economic stakeholders. It also seeks to enhance the sustainable valorisation of endogenous resources and to promote innovative solutions capable of addressing the challenges of climate change and desertification in a semi-arid Mediterranean context.
The operation contributes to the regional innovation ecosystem, deepens the connection between science, the productive sector and public policies, supports the implementation of the smart specialisation strategy defined in the Alentejo 2030 RIS3 (EREI Alentejo 2030), and promotes the attraction and retention of highly qualified talent in low-density territories.

Activities:
1. Recruitment of 1 highly qualified staff member (CITE 8) specialized in Mediterranean semi-arid ecosystem modelling and climate change for R&D&I in Biodiversity.
2. Recruitment of 1 highly qualified staff member (CITE 8) specialized in molecular monitoring for R&D&I in Agroecology and Bioeconomy.
3. Recruitment of 1 highly qualified staff member (CITE 8) specialized in integrated wildlife monitoring for R&D&I in Wildlife/Game Resources.
4. Recruitment of 1 highly qualified staff member (CITE 7) in Landscape Architecture, Agronomy, Forestry or Environmental Engineering for R&D&I in Agroecology, Bioeconomy, and NBS.