From 4 to 6 February 2025, the Carnot 3BCAR community got together on the INSA Toulouse campus for the 14th edition of its Researchers’ Seminar. This three‑day event provided a valuable opportunity for in‑person interaction and for fostering the co‑construction of new research projects. Over 120 researchers from the 3BCAR network participated. During the joint session with Carnot Plant2Pro, the focus was on “Biotechnology and green chemistry in support of the overall health of agroecosystems.”
The seminar opened with a review of key highlights from 2024 and the latest network news, offering an overview of recent achievements and progress. This was followed by an address from Mr Jean‑Michel Le Roux, the Carnot Programme Director at ANR. Two early‑career researchers then presented their projects in 180 seconds as part of the “newcomers’ pitch” sequence. Sessions showcasing projects funded in 2023 followed, featuring early results from HYMEC, E‑LASTO, ICAM, DUB.ME BIOMETHANE, as well as TC NANOCELL, METHASOLCN, CEENS, PRICEPOX, and FORMULAFLA. The sequence concluded with a presentation on the allocation of the 2024 funding to 2025 initiatives. The 2024 additional funding enabled support for 12 resourcing projects, 3 quality certification actions, 11 proofs of concept, 4 technological platform strengthening actions, and 3 international missions. The first day concluded with a guided visit of Toulouse’s cultural heritage.
Day two began with an overview of funding mechanisms for collaborative research, followed by a workshop on understanding these tools—their use by the scientific community, and their respective advantages and drawbacks. Colleagues from Carnot Plant2Pro joined the proceedings. After mutual presentations by the two Carnots, participants had the option to visit: the ‘Biotech Alley’ featuring components of 3BCAR (TBI, TWB, CRITT Bio‑Industries, and CRITT GPTE); at Auzeville, the National Plant Genomic Resources Centre (CNRGV) and the TPMP platform for plant‑microorganism phenotyping; or at Baziège, the SYPPRE experimental platform, overseen by ARVALIS and Terres Inovia, to explore tomorrow’s cultivation systems.
The final morning was devoted to the interface questions between Carnot 3BCAR and Plant2Pro. Following a presentation of illustrative projects involving components from both Carnots, a speed‑dating workshop was organised to identify new cross‑disciplinary scientific questions and draft potential research projects.
This five‑half‑day programme proved enriching and stimulating for all participants, offering the chance to discover the network’s latest advances and contribute to its ongoing success through jointly designing new research endeavours.
