What is FOCUS-4R?
A European project dedicated to the Outermost Regions
Officially launched in September 2025, FOCUS-4R brings together 11 European partners across 3 Outermost Regions: La Réunion, Madeira and the Canary Islands.
The consortium brings together academic institutions and non-academic actors, in a logic of cross-sector cooperation between so-called “widening” regions which are working to strengthen their research and innovation capacities, and more advanced regions in these fields.
The project aims to strengthen biomedical research and innovation capacities of these territories, historically hampered by their geographical remoteness, insularity, and specific socio-economic conditions. The programme places particular emphasis on training, talent mobility and knowledge transfer in order to close the gap with more advanced regions and create new job and career opportunities in the biomedical sector.
The 4R principles at the heart of the approach
Alongside the development of scientific and other transferable capacities, FOCUS-4R promotes an ethical approach to research based “4R principles”: Replacement, Reduction, Refinement and Responsibility. This dimension of the project is closely aligned with European priorities for responsible research and innovation.
Up to 126 "secondments" (mobilities) planned over 4 years
Eva Naffrichoux’s mobility is the first of a much larger mobility programme. During the four years of the project, the consortium plans to organise up to 126 secondments between partner organisations.
Besides scientific skills, these exchanges will enable participants to develop transferable skills, strengthen their professional experience and better respond to the evolving needs of the market and industry. They will also contribute to fostering entrepreneurship and career development opportunities in the Outermost Regions.