Members of the Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio, CSIC–Universitat de València) participated in the Grape Research and New Technology Training Summer School – PIFI Day, organized by the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IB-CAS) as part of the International Exchange Initiative funded by the President's International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI) of CAS.

The event, held on 27 June, brought together leading international researchers, early-career scientists, and students from China, Spain, France, Italy, Chile, South Africa, and the United States to discuss cutting-edge advances in crop biology, including genomics, gene editing, stress resilience, breeding for climate adaptation, and emerging research technologies. The scientific program covered a broad range of topics, including genome editing, comparative genomics, grapevine evolution and domestication, specialized metabolism, drought adaptation, climate resilience, promoter engineering, somatic embryogenesis, innovative biotechnological approaches for sustainable viticulture and robotics in tomato breeding. Together, these presentations highlighted how modern genomics, multi-omics, systems biology, and biotechnology are transforming crop research and accelerating the development of more resilient cultivars.

I2SysBio was represented by José Tomás Matus, Group Leader of the TOMSBio Lab and PIFI Fellow, and David Navarro-Payá, who contributed to the scientific workshop by presenting recent advances from I2SysBio's research on grapevine systems biology, gene regulatory networks, and stress adaptation. The Summer School also provided an outstanding training opportunity for young researchers from the institute. Antonio González (ncRNALab) together with Jone Echeverria and Antonio Santiago (TOMSBio Lab), participated in the scientific sessions and discussions, interacting with researchers from CAS and leading international institutions. Their participation fostered new scientific exchanges while strengthening collaborations between I2SysBio and its international partners.

The President's International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI) is one of the flagship international programs of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, designed to promote scientific excellence through international collaboration. By supporting visiting scientists, postdoctoral researchers, and students, PIFI facilitates long-term partnerships, knowledge exchange, and the development of collaborative research projects with leading CAS institutes.

The participation of I2SysBio researchers and students in this Summer School reflects the institute's strong commitment to internationalization, scientific cooperation, and the training of the next generation of researchers in plant systems biology, genomics, and biotechnology.