Project objective:

The project aims to develop new skills through professional training placements and the advanced use of existing infrastructure, which is equipped with high-performance tools for analyzing trees’ physiological and morphological responses to abiotic and biotic stress. Implementation of the project seeks to both strengthen the institute’s research capacity and promote excellence in forestry research at national and international levels.

The project was awarded funding under Program 5.8 – European and International Cooperation, Subprogram 5.8.1 Horizon Europe – Horizon Europe Awards, PNCDI IV (PN-IV-P8-8.1-PRE-HE-ORG-2025-0276).

• Promoting excellence in scientific research by enhancing human resources in the field of plant ecophysiology.
• Increasing institutional visibility at the international level.

• Professional training of researchers at prestigious institutions with experience in the field of plant ecophysiology.
• Participation in technical-scientific events
• Published scientific articles

The objective initiated under stage no. 1/2025, in accordance with the implementation plan for the project “Promoting Excellence in Scientific Research through Human Resource Development,” aims to develop and strengthen the professional competencies of research personnel, as well as to enhance institutional recognition at both national and international levels.

The activities carried out during Stage 1/2025 of the ENFORCE project—supporting active citizen engagement alongside public authorities in environmental protection efforts, aimed at promoting excellence in scientific research through human resource development—were fully implemented, achieving a 100% completion rate.

The following activities were carried out during Phase I of the project.

• Participation in professional training and development programs;
• Participation in courses, seminars, or workshops on scientific research skills (data analysis, scientific article writing, use of specialized software, etc.)
• Participation in national and international conferences.

The activities carried out included participation in a professional training course at a prestigious institution in the field, as well as support for attending relevant national and international conferences. These initiatives not only contributed to the researchers’ professional development but also facilitated the exchange of knowledge and best practices with international specialists. Furthermore, the dissemination of scientific findings was a key component, serving to showcase the results achieved within the project.

Among the results of this stage is the professional development of a young researcher, who attended the “Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources” training course organized by the Forest Research Institute (IBL) in Poland. Additionally, on November 12, 2025, a member of the implementation team participated in the workshop “Fixing the Knowledge: Embedding Gender Dimension within Your Research,” organized by UEFISCDI.

Also during this stage, dissemination activities were carried out through participation in national and international conferences:

• 2 participations in the 7th Edition of the Integrated Management of Environmental Resources Conference, Suceava, Romania, November 6–7, 2025;
• 2 presentations at the 31st “Dimitrie Brandza” Scientific Communications Session, Bucharest, Romania, November 14–15, 2025.

Cognitive and socio-economic impact

Participation in the ENFORCE project—which supports active citizen engagement alongside public authorities in environmental protection efforts—contributes significantly to the professional development of the research team and to strengthening the institutional capacity of INCDS “Marin Drăcea” at both national and international levels. Through professional training activities and participation in scientific events, knowledge regarding forest ecology and ecophysiology, the conservation of genetic resources, and the integration of modern European requirements into research activities has been deepened.