RECROP–PrimSeedPower GenNext Training School
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Building Climate-Resilient Crops through Stress Biology and Seed Priming


April 21–23, 2026

MAICh Conference Centre, Chania, Greece

Registration: January 20th – March 20th, 2026

Travel grants application deadline: February 15th.

There is NO participation fee
 

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Due to administrative requirements related to travel grant reimbursement, applicants are asked to register using separate forms depending on the topic of their contribution.

Topics related to plant stress biology and crop improvement under climate change should be submitted via the RECROP registration form:
👉 https://www.recrop-cost.com/Conference

Topics focused on seed priming strategies should be submitted via the PrimSeedPower registration form:
👉 https://forms.gle/jfaQyb2Nq6Bi6aV98

Please ensure that you select the appropriate registration form corresponding to your research topic to facilitate correct processing of applications and travel grant reimbursement.
 

The RECROP–PrimSeedPower GenNext Training School is a joint initiative of two COST Actions aimed at providing advanced, interdisciplinary training for Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in plant science. The school focuses on understanding and exploiting plant stress biology and seed priming strategies to enhance crop resilience under climate change.

Beyond scientific lectures, the Training School will offer soft-skills workshops on scientific writing, grant preparation, and science communication, as well as stakeholder-oriented sessions highlighting links between research, innovation, and policy. Interactive mentoring and informal discussion sessions will facilitate direct exchange between trainees and leading scientists.

The Training School is intended for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers seeking to strengthen both their scientific expertise and professional development while building international networks. 

There are 50 participant spots. Travel grants are available for 30 selected Early Career
participants from both COST actions. The selection of awardees is handled directly by the
organizers based on the quality of the submitted abstract and the motivation letter (up to 1
page) for RECROP reimbursement and CV for PrimSeedPower reimbursement (check the
respective application forms).

Travel reimbursement will be processed according to ANNOTATED RULES FOR COST
ACTIONS.

For more information, check https://www.cost.eu/travel_reimbursement_rules/

 

Eligibility for Travel Grants

Applicants must:

Eligibility for travel grants is defined by Annotated rules for COST Actions (https://www.cost.eu/uploads/2025/11/COST-094-21-Annotated-Rules-for-COST-Actions-Level-C-V3.0-25-IX-2025.pdf) A1-3.1.2 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS 

Please note that eligibility for participation and RECROP travel grants requires active
membership in the RECROP COST Action (CA22157).

If you are not yet a member, please apply to join RECROP. Membership is free and open to
researchers working in relevant fields.

Apply here to join RECROP CA22157:
https://e-services.cost.eu/action/CA22157/working-groups/apply

All trainees will be expected to present a poster showcasing their research, fostering scientific exchange and peer learning. In addition, selected abstracts will be invited for oral presentations, providing ECRs with enhanced visibility and presentation experience.

Confirmed Speakers: 

  • Sotirios Fragkostefanakis, RECROP Action Chair, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
  • Erna Karalija, PrimSeedPower Cost Action Chair, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina 
  • Prof., Dr. Andreas P.M. Weber, Institute for Plant Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
  • Panagiotis Moschou, Department of Biology, University of Crete, Greece
  • Aleksandra Radanovic, RECROP WG4 Leader, Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia
  • Vasileios Fotopoulos, PrimSeedPower Action Vice Chair, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
  • Dunja Šamec, PrimSeedPower WG2 Leader, University Sjever, Koprivnica, Croatia
  • Jan Hejatko, CEITEC, Masaryk University, Brno, Czhech Republic
  • Frank Van Breusegem, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
  • Moussa Benhamed, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
  • Stella Provelengiou, Industry Engagement Coordinator, Subject matter expert, Crop Trust
  • Nune Igityan, Growth & AI Advisor

 

TBC

Preliminary program of the event: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q5X7zqfssa3jvrlIjtmtGMgrRbcjJhiC/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106874853814210247332&rtpof=true&sd=true

 

Lunches

  • In accordance with COST regulations, only coffee breaks can be covered by the Action. Lunches are therefore not included and must be covered by participants themselves. For your convenience, group lunches will be organized, and the cost will be paid on-site.

 

Social events

  • We plan to organize optional social events in the evenings, subject to an additional fee. These will include a welcome reception on Day 1 and a gala dinner on Day 2. Further details and pricing will be announced at a later stage.

 

For accommodation:

You can choose to stay in the town (it is really beautiful with nice boutique hotels in the old part), or in the campus. The institute (MAICh) offers three possibilities:

  1. Stonehouses in the Conference campus can host a limited number of participants (approximately 10 stonehouses) in the price of 125€ per stonehouse. Each stonehouse consists of a two level traditional apartment with a double bed in the upper level and a lounge with one or two single beds in the lower level (sofa beds). A Kitchenette and T. V. are available in all stonehouses.
  2. The student dormitories can accommodate participants in single or double rooms (bunk bed) with private facilities in the price of 48€ and 65€ per day breakfast included.
  3. Approximately 5 attics in the student dormitories building are also available. The attic is a two level room with a double mattress in the upper level and a single bed, refrigerator and T. V. in the lower level (private facilities). The price per attic is 74 € per day breakfast included.

Details: https://confer.maich.gr/facilities/accommodation.html

The town of Chania can be accessed by bus (station is 10 min walk from MAICH) or taxi (8-10 min drive, around 8 euros).

Organizers

  • Dr. Olha Lakhneko– Coordinator of the event, RECROP Action Young Researcher and Investigator Engagement Coordinator, olha.lakhneko@savba.sk
    Plant Science and Biodiversity Center, Nitra, Slovakia
  • Dr. Sotirios Fragkostefanakis, RECROP Action Chair,
    Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
  • Dr Aleksandra Radanović, RECROP WG4 Leader 
    Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia
  • Prof Erna Karalija, PrimSeedPower Cost Action Chair
    University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
  • Prof Baris Uzilday, PrimSeedPower Science Communication Coordinator
    Ege University, Izmir, Türkiye