International Agreements and Memberships

Being part of a large and active scientific community helps young researchers to increase and encourage their network of contacts. It also supports the most experienced researchers to consolidate their contacts and still offer the opportunity to create new ones. The research feeds on the sharing of experiences by the researchers themselves.

Therefore, SISSA supports networking and is an active and proactive member of various scientific associations:

AARC

The Alps-Adriatic Rectors’ Conference (AARC) is a network of over 40 universities, including SISSA, from the Alps-Adriatic area and includes the Western Balkans since 2011. The main goal of AARC is to promote transnational dialogue and cross-border cooperation in the fields of university education and scientific research between Higher Education Institutions across the region, as well as transdisciplinary cooperation with different partners in the spheres of culture, industry, the arts, business and public institutions. AARC cooperates with the requisite institutions of the European Union in scientific research and in the different cycles of higher educational training, including life-long learning.

CoARA

SISSA is a signatory of the agreement on reforming research assessment promoted by the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment. In line with the Coalition’s principles, the School promotes a research assessment system based on qualitative excellence, Open Science, and the diversity of scientific contributions. This international synergy allows SISSA to exchange tools and methodologies with leading European research institutions, fostering an academic culture that recognizes the value of every stage of the research cycle, from data sharing (Open Data) to peer review.

EBRAINS

Its goal is to accelerate the effort to understand human brain function and disease, with the ambition to enable a new era in brain research. EBRAINS provides digital tools and services which can be used to address challenges in brain research and brain-inspired technology development. Its components are designed with, by, and for researchers. The tools assist scientists to collect, analyse, share, and integrate brain data, and to perform modelling and simulation of brain function.

EMUNI

SISSA is part of the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI), which is an international association of universities with headquarters in Slovenia. EMUNI represents one of the six projects of the Union of the Mediterranean. The goal of the EMUNI University is to create specialised study programmes , which are significant for the Euro-Mediterranean Area, among the Euro-Mediterranean universities. EMUNI performs research in areas relevant to the university’s mission. Research work is conducted either by its own research staff or by academics from institutions belonging to the EMUNI network.

EOSC

The European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) is an environment for hosting and processing research data to support EU science. The EOSC brings together institutional, national and European stakeholders, initiatives and data infrastructures to develop an inclusive open science ecosystem in Europe. This can lead new insights and innovations, higher research productivity and improved reproducibility in science. EU countries and countries associated with Horizon 2020, represented in the EOSC Governance Board, agreed unanimously to run the EOSC as a co-programmed European Partnership under Horizon Europe from 2021. In July 2020, an EOSC association was set up to provide a single voice for advocacy and represent the broader EOSC stakeholder community. This association aims to become operational by early 2021 and rapidly expand its membership. SISSA became one of the first members of EOSC to actively contribute to its goals.

EUA

The European University Association – EUA represents more than 900 institutions of higher education in 49 countries. Members of the Association are European universities involved in teaching and research, national associations of rectors, and other organisations active in higher education and research. EUA promotes the exchange of best practices, participation in international conferences and projects. Collaboration between members and partners covers cross-cutting issues in higher education and research, such as the core missions of universities - such as learning, teaching, quality assurance and research - European and national policies and initiatives - such as EU programmes, funding, university autonomy and Open Science - and the link between universities and sustainable development, the energy challenge and European values. Through continuous interaction with European and international organisations, EUA ensures that the independent voice of European universities is heard and that its members can influence EU policies on higher education, research and innovation.

EUA - CDE

The EUA Council for Doctoral Education is the leading European network dedicated to doctoral education, bringing together over 280 universities and institutions across 39 countries. As an integral part of the EUA, it promotes excellence and innovation in postgraduate studies through the exchange of best practices, conferences, and research projects. The association serves as a strategic platform for defining common doctoral policies, addressing key issues such as supervision, research integrity, and transferable skills. Through constant dialogue with policymakers, the EUA-CDE ensures that the training of young researchers remains a top priority on the European higher education and innovation agenda.

INAF and INFN

The National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) and the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) are national research bodies and have the task of carry out, promote and enhance scientific and technological research in the fields of astronomy and astrophysics and disseminate the related results, promote and encourage technology transfer to industry pursuing goals of excellence at an international level. SISSA researchers work in close collaboration with these two research institutions. In order to do so, if a SISSA researcher needs an official declaration (nulla osta) to be associated with INAF or INFN he/she can contact us by e-mail at research@sissa.it.

SAR

Scholars at Risk (SAR) is an international network of higher education institutions based in the United States. SAR supports and defends the principles of academic freedom. The network includes over 400 higher education institutions, including SISSA, in 39 countries. The SAR Italy national section was established in 2019. SAR protects scholars suffering grave threats to their lives, liberty and well-being by arranging temporary research and teaching positions at institutions in our network as well as by providing advisory and referral services.

APRE

The Agency for the Promotion of European Research (APRE), is a non-profit research organization. For over twenty-five years, APRE, in close collaboration with the Ministry of University and Research (MUR), has provided its members as well as companies, government agencies, and private individuals, information, support and assistance to participate in national and European programmes and collaborative initiatives (today, with particular reference to Horizon 2020) in the field of Research, Technological Development and Innovation (RTDI) and in the transfer of research results. APRE was created in 1989 as a joint initiative of the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) and some public and private bodies in order to meet the growing demand for information on European research programmes. APRE hosts the Italian National Contact Points (NCP) for Horizon 2020, which is a network acknowledged by the European Commission and provides advice and assistance in all aspects of the EU RTDI programme. APRE is supported by more than 100 supporting and ordinary members, including SISSA.

EARMA

In line with its commitment to international best practices, SISSA officially joined the European Association of Research Managers and Administrators (EARMA) in 2025. This strategic membership provides our research support staff with access to the latest European policies and professional training, enabling SISSA to enhance its efficiency in managing complex projects and actively contribute to the European research management landscape.