As part of the MSCA Staff Exchange (MSCA-SE) programme and the ENSURE-6G project, I recently travelled to Barcelona to spend time on secondment with the team at Telefónica, representing MBP Network Technology as director.
These exchanges are at the heart of what makes European research collaboration work. Sitting in the same room as partners, rather than meeting over yet another video call, changes the texture of the conversation. Ideas move faster, ambiguities get resolved on the spot, and the relationships that underpin long-term consortium work get a chance to deepen.
Aligning on ongoing and future EU projects
A central thread of the visit was taking stock of our shared portfolio of EU projects, both the work already in motion and the opportunities on the horizon. We spent considerable time mapping out where our respective strengths complement one another and where future calls might offer the right vehicle for joint work.
Just as importantly, we used the time to streamline how we approach proposal writing together. Anyone who has co-authored a consortium proposal knows that coordination overhead can quietly become the largest cost of all. By agreeing on clearer ways of dividing the work, sharing drafts, and reaching consensus, we set ourselves up to move more efficiently on the proposals ahead.
Looking ahead
I came away from Barcelona with a clearer roadmap, stronger working relationships, and renewed appreciation for what programmes like MSCA-SE make possible. Cross-border secondments are not just a formality of EU funding; they are where genuine collaboration takes root.
My thanks to the Telefónica team for the warm welcome and the productive days together. I look forward to seeing the results of this work, from the NextGCom paper through to the proposals we are now better positioned to write.
Dr. Bart Siniarski
MBP Network Technology
