Excellent Peripheries for a Strong European Research Area
|
|
|
|
Grant Agreement Number: 101071329
Funding Scheme Horizon Europe: HORIZON-WIDERA: Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area
Total Budget: € 1 975 312.50
EU Financial Contribution: 100%
Start Date: October 2022
Duration: 30 months
Coordinator: University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
|
Universities in Outermost Regions face unique challenges due to their small size and isolation, which hinder their competitiveness and development. However, these regions' exceptional geographical and geological characteristics make them valuable laboratories for research and innovation. To overcome their isolation, collaboration with leading research and innovation networks and organisations is essential.
European funding programs emphasise cooperation as an enabling instrument for mutual learning, fostering innovation, and achieving excellence.
By connecting academic and business organisations within and beyond their regions, universities can transform themselves into key players in regional innovation systems.
|
Unlocking the Potential of Outermost Regions
|
|
|
We are delighted to present to you the first newsletter release for the EXPER project. EXPER is an EU-funded project that aims to enhance the scientific excellence and innovation capacity of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and the University of the Azores (UAc). Both universities will learn through capacity building and international cooperation from the leading Universities of Rostock (Germany) and Calabria (Italy).
|
|
|
Building a Stronger Network for Research Excellence and Innovation Capacity: The Purpose of EXPERs
|
|
|
Collaborating for Change: Meet the Key Universities of the EXPER Project
|
|
|
The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) is leading the project and is responsible for several key areas given their expertise in different innitiatives and programs. They'll be supported by The Canarian Science and Technology Park Foundation of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (FCPCT), which will help with administrative and financial management and link the university with innovative enterprises and other research centers in the Canary Islands.
|
|
The University of the Azores (UAc) is representing the research and innovation ecosystem and is committed to creating and promoting knowledge and technology related to biodiversity, volcanology, tourism, marine issues, and transnational challenges. The university has participated in several innovation programs and initiatives, including the H2020 program and regional innovation initiatives.
|
|
|
The University of Calabria (UNICAL) shares the focus on green and blue economy as key sectors for sustainable development with the other partners. They have special expertise in building entrepreneurial capacities and skills of students and researchers, and are a reference organization in Italy for the deployment of capacity building trainings that involve students, researchers, and companies.Â
|
|
The University of Rostock (UROS) is a public university located in northern Germany and is the leading university in EXPER. They'll contribute to capacity building activities and facilitate networking among Widening Universities researchers. As a member of the EU-CONEXUS European University Alliance (EUA), UROS will share the lessons learned in a EUA with EXPER.
|
|
|
The EXPER project is a powerful collaboration between leading universities in Germany and Italy, and widening universities in Spain and Portugal. These universities are working together to drive innovation and sustainability, while supporting entrepreneurship and building the skills of both students and researchers. But it's not just academia - this consortium is backed by a team of industry experts, startups, and research organisations who are all committed to creating a better future. With their combined expertise and resources, they're sure to make a real impact on the EU:
🔹Fundación Canaria Parque CientÃfico Tecnológico de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (FCPCT) 🔹Sociedad de Promoción Económica de Gran Canaria (SPEGC) 🔹Asociación Canaria de Startups Empresas de Base Tecnológica (EMERGE) 🔹TERINOV - Science and Technology Park, Atrineo AG, 🔹Consulta Europa Projects and Innovations (CE) 🔹Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias (ITC)
Are you excited to know more about our consortium members? Throughout the project a dedicated section we will be placed on the newsletter to talk about all of them!
|
The project partners gathered in Gran Canaria (Spain) for the kick-off meeting in October 2022 and had the opportunity to discuss boosting the research and innovation capacity of Member States, Associated Countries, and Outermost Regions that lack in terms of research and innovation. With a focus on knowledge transfer and connecting universities with the private sector, partners also outlined the exciting opportunities the project would bring. "EXPER will create spin-off base companies, address intellectual property rights issues, and bring a wealth of knowledge to the Canary Islands," said Sebastián López, director of Innovation and Technology Transfer at ULPGC and project coordinator.
|
|
|
|
Join us on this exciting journey of discovery and collaboration!
|
The EXPER project will apply its focus on knowledge transfer by organising supporting activities and setting the basis for a European University Alliance. Through a community-based approach, the project will outline a modernisation strategy of the Widening Universities involving representatives of the surrounding ecosystem. Are you keen to know more about the project?
|
|
|
Developing the Mission and the Vision of the Widening Universities
|
|
|
Stay tuned for what's coming next in the EXPER project!
|
The next steps in this journey involve developing the mission and vision of the widening universities, and involving stakeholders of the surrounding ecosystems in the process.
Â
Through a series of activities, the EXPER project aims to institutionalise change by building the capacity of the universities and fostering international cooperation. The involvement of regional stakeholders in the development of the mission and vision of the universities will ensure that the modernisation strategies developed are aligned with the needs and goals of the universities, as well as the citizens and that the latter have a voice in the process.
Â
EXPER is a significant initiative that will drive economic and social transformation in the territories of the partnering universities, with a focus on research fields addressing challenges and opportunities offered by the green, blue, and circular economy. This way, the project continues to make strides towards the institutional transformation of two universities in EU Outermost Regions.Â
|
|
|
BETTER Life for Socially Engaged Research Life Sciences
|
BETTER Life will establish a European Digital Centre of Excellence for fostering Socially Engaged Research in Life Sciences, as well as seven regional centres...
|
|
E³UDRES² Ent-r-e-novators Project Meets in Austria to Work on Strategies
|
The Ent-r-e-novators project, which started in October 2022, is an initiative that aims to increase the research capacity of E³UDRES² and co-create a specific joint research strategy for the alliance...
|
|
BI4E – Learn about the project Boosting INGENIUM for Excellence
|
The kick-off meeting and the first steering committee meeting of the BI4E Consortium took place on october 7th at the University of Rouen Normandy – CURIB, gathering 25 participants...
|
|
|
Paving the Way for a European University Alliance
|
|
|
EXPER project is not only a research and innovation initiative, but also a preparatory step towards a European University Alliance that involves Outermost Regions with other excellent research organisations in Europe. With UAC and ULPGC being located on islands, the blue economy represents an important field of research, innovation, business, and social activities for both territories. These ORs have also gained recognition at the EU level as living labs, with special environmental conditions, to conduct innovation and research pilots in the marine sector. Additionally, the transition towards a circular economic model is vital for insular territories that heavily rely on natural resources and are under pressure from tourism, which generates additional demands for resources and poses waste management challenges. Blue growth and circular economy thus represent a niche of innovation possibilities with great potential for the Canary Islands and the Azores, and the EXPER project is poised to explore and leverage this potential.
|
|
|
Stay tuned for updates on the project's progress and outcomes, as well as upcoming events and activities at www.exper-project.eu. Follow us on social media to join the conversation and stay up-to-date with the latest news and developments. Together, let's work towards enhancing research and innovation capacity in the Outermost Regions and achieving excellence in the European research landscape.
|
 
|
|
 
|
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
|
|
|
2023 © All rights reserved
|
|
|
The European EXPER Project to strengthen the outermost regions' universities begins
|
|
|
|