Recap of the Cross Border Doctorials 2025: 3 days of innovation and international cooperation in Camargue
From 6 to 8 October 2025, the Collège Doctoral Languedoc-Roussillon organised a new edition of the Cross Border Doctorials in Aigues-Mortes, at the heart of the Camargue. This immersive three-day workshop brought together international PhD candidates and design innovative research projects in response to European Horizon 2030 calls.
Publié le 09/10/2025
Developing Key Skills for Future Researchers
The main goal of the Cross Border Doctorials was to place PhD candidates in a real-life situation of responding to European project calls. Over three days, participants worked in international and interdisciplinary teams to develop skills that will be valuable for their future careers as researchers: understanding how European funding works, structuring a collaborative project, and designing innovative solutions to societal challenges.
They were guided by experts in innovation, research, and European projects, who supported them throughout the process. In between team work sessions, participants attended talks and practical workshops that helped them better understand each step — from building a project idea to presenting it clearly and convincingly.
Day 1 – Getting Started
The first day began with a welcome speech and a conference on “How to Prepare a Proposal” by Sébastien Balme. Since participants had already met him via a video session the previous week, they could start working directly in their groups. In the evening, before dinner, they attended the first part of a workshop on pitch deck presentation, setting the stage for the next steps of their projects.
Day 2 – Developing the Project
The second day started with a conference on Valorization Strategy (TRL & IP) by Maxime Larrieu-Casteres. In the afternoon, participants enjoyed a canal cruise in the Camargue before attending the second session of the pitch deck workshop with Sylvain Rouanet. The rest of the day was filled with intensive group work, allowing teams to continue developing and refining their projects.
Day 3 – Pitching to the Jury
The final day was dedicated to presenting the projects to the jury, composed of Charlène Labourdette (International Project Officer, Toulouse University), Emilie Feruya (European Project Officer, Montpellier University), and Nicolas Inguimbert (Director of Collège Doctoral LR). In the morning, teams practiced their pitches in front of the coaches, receiving valuable feedback to improve their presentations before the final session.
Project Highlights by Team
Team "Caroux"
Team Caroux – One Health Surveillance & Zoonoses Prevention
Team members: Joséphine, Mariana, Xiang, and Saha
Project: They developed a plan for early virus detection at major EU entry points using wastewater analysis and social medi
Team "Hortus"
Team Hortus – Water Security in a Changing Climate
Team members: Silvia, Gabriella, Albert, Angela, Han
Project: The aim of the project is to create an intellingent monitoring ecosystem combining smart sensors, models and digital twins for tracking everging contanirets movement in urban wastewater system.
Team "Labeil"
Team Labeil – Circular Economy and Consumer Behaviour
Team members: Zacharie, Bisma, Mariam, Monika
Project: The projet is shifting the recycling and resorting of textiles towards consumers in promote circular behaviour by providing econmic incertives
Team "Joncas"
Team Joncas – Smart Materials for Energy Transition
Team members: Marie, Louise, Adrien, Birame, Behrad, Ines, Zahra
Project: The projet is develop a new concept of smart-materials layering to mitigate heat waves issues in cities while producing green electricity thanks to the heat.
Team "Thaurac"
Team Thaurac – Vulnerabilities, Care and Territorial Justice
Team members: Marcella, Margaux, Bochra, Mbingo Kingue, Muhammad Homayoon, Zouhair
Project: The project focuses on elderly living in rural territories who have difficulties in accessing care, legal, structural and social services.
Team "Claret"
Team Claret – Vulnerabilities, Care and Territorial Justice
Team members: Laia, Loan, Alexandre, Janik, Sai Kiran Kumar, Patrizia Felicetta
Project: The aim is develop an AJ guided intransally delivered nanotherapy for parkinson’s disease that can selectively degrade toxic x synudein aggregates in the brain.
This year’s Cross Border Doctorials brought together 32 PhD candidates from 15 nationalities across Europe — including Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. The event fostered collaboration between several European University Alliances, such as Across Alliance, UNIVERSEH, and CHARM, making it a key initiative for strengthening European cooperation in research and doctoral training.
