Press release - February 20th 2026

ICECHIM - Technological Driver in the AgroCliN Centre of Excellence, a Strategic Initiative for Climate-Neutral Agriculture

20 February 2026

The National Institute for Research and Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry – ICECHIM Bucharest is a partner in the project “Excellence Research Center Fostering Climate Neutrality and Resilience through Agriculture (AgroCliN)”, coordinated by the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest (USAMV Bucharest). The funding contract was signed on 19 February 2026 with UEFISCDI (through its General Director, Professor Adrian Curaj), under the National Plan for Research, Development and Innovation 2022–2027 (PNCDI IV), within the Challenges Programme – Strategic Agenda Partnerships Subprogramme - Centres of Excellence.

The establishment of Centres of Excellence represents one of the most ambitious institutional initiatives of the past decade in Romanian research, aiming to strengthen strategic domains with significant scientific, economic, and societal impact potential. AgroCliN seeks to develop a Centre of Excellence dedicated to supporting the transition towards sustainable, resilient, and climate-neutral agriculture by integrating advanced research, technological innovation, and knowledge transfer to society and the economic environment.

“AgroCliN reflects a paradigm shift: agriculture is no longer just an economic sector, but a key pillar of climate neutrality and societal resilience. Through this Centre of Excellence, we aim to connect cutting-edge research with the real needs of farmers, the environment and society, contributing to the development of sustainable and competitive agriculture”, stated Prof. Dr. Sorin Mihai Cîmpeanu, Project Director.

Within the consortium, ICECHIM contributes to strengthening the project’s technological dimension by developing solutions based on applied chemistry and materials science, and by facilitating the transfer of research results into practical applications in agriculture and environmental protection. The institute’s involvement reinforces AgroCliN’s orientation towards applied innovation and transferable results, which are essential for accelerating the transition to sustainable agricultural systems.

“This Centre of Excellence will not only enable the maintenance and further development of research staff competences within the partner institutions, but will also catalyse the creation of new competences aligned with future challenges, all to the benefit of agricultural producers and farmers, as well as consumers and citizens at large”, stated Dr. Biochem. Mihaela Doni, General Director of ICECHIM.

The ICECHIM project responsible, Dr. Habil. Irina Fierăscu, highlighted the long-term strategic dimension of the initiative: “The AgroCliN consortium already demonstrates a solid capacity for collaboration and scientific excellence; however, the true value of this Centre lies in its long-term perspective. We are not speaking merely about an initiative with proven results, but about a sustainable platform that will continue to generate innovation, develop new competences, and strengthen Romania’s positioning within European research dedicated to agriculture and the environment”.

Through its participation in AgroCliN, ICECHIM further consolidates its role as a strategic actor within the national research and innovation ecosystem, contributing to the development of agriculture grounded in science, technology, and sustainability. The Centre of Excellence represents not only recognition of existing competences, but also an investment in the capacity to generate future solutions tailored to climate challenges and the evolving demands of the European economy.