As the EXPER Project reaches the end of another productive year, exciting developments continue to unfold. Since the last update, the project has maintained strong momentum, driving significant progress in modernising the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and the University of the Azores (UAç). These initiatives aim to enhance research capabilities and foster sustainable development in the blue and green economies, marking considerable advancements across multiple fronts.

In this edition, the newsletter delves into how the EXPER Project is overcoming key barriers to attracting and retaining talent through targeted educational programmes, career development opportunities, and diversity initiatives. Within Work Package 3, practical skills are being developed via the organisation of Contamination Labs alongside the implementation of the HRS4R strategy, while research staff and students receive training on ethical excellence. This comprehensive approach ensures that both universities are building an inclusive and dynamic research community.

 

Additionally, the EXPER Project is advancing efforts in Work Package 4, which promotes excellent and responsible research. This involves the creation of Societal Challenges Working Groups (SCWGs) for UAç and ULPGC. Through Work Package 5, the project is strengthening its ties to the business environment by developing effective knowledge transfer strategies and supporting spin-offs through dedicated education and training programmes and Work Package 6 prepares the strategy for the establishment of a forum of peripheral universities to increase research excellence, foster international cooperation, and foster regional knowledge and an innovation-based development model.

 Launched CLAB Model at ULPGC to Foster Innovation and Entrepreneurship

June 12, 2024 marked a significant milestone for the EXPER project as it held an inaugural in-person meeting at the Canarian Science and Technology Park Foundation of the ULPGC. The meeting signalled the commencement of the CLAB (Contamination Lab) model implementation at ULPGC, a crucial component of the “WP3: Attracting and Retaining Talents” work package.

 EXPER Summer School concluded in Gran Canaria

From July 17th to 19th, the vibrant city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria hosted the EXPER Summer School at the ULPGC. This event brought together over 90 participants and leading minds from across Europe and from the UAç to engage in an intensive programme designed to enhance skills in proposal writing, project development, and research excellence.

Successful Online Summer School Explores Open Science, Technology Transfer, and Horizon Europe Proposal Writing in Azores

From September 24th to 26th, 2024, over 140 attendees participated in the highly engaging online EXPER Summer School, hosted by the University of the Azores (UAc) under the Horizon Europe EXPER project. The event’s success underscores UAc’s commitment to fostering a collaborative research environment and equipping regional stakeholders with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in European funding programmes. 

ULPGC Delegation Visits KIT in Germany for Knowledge Transfer Insights

From June 12 to June 13, a delegation from the ULPGC visited the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. The visit aimed to gain insights into KIT’s work on knowledge transfer, particularly in the context of innovation and sustainability.

SPEGC Hosts Pioneering Training Session to Foster University-Business Collaboration

As part of the WP6 of the EXPER project, the SPEGC conducted its inaugural training session focused on tools to enhance university-business collaboration. This pilot initiative is a key component of Task 6.3 of the project, targeting leading researchers and administrative staff from the ULPGC.

The EXPER Societal Challenges Working Groups convened in Gran Canaria

The EXPER project’s Societal Challenges Working Groups convened at the Summer School in Gran Canaria from July 17–19, 2024, marking a pivotal moment in advancing multidisciplinary and collaborative research to tackle pressing societal challenges. 

EXPER Project’s Innovative Team Building Event in Gran Canaria

 In a unique blend of culinary arts and professional development, the EXPER project, hosted a dynamic team-building cooking workshop. This engaging event, held in Santa Brígida, was a cornerstone activity of Task 3.2 of WP3 aimed at fostering collaboration and innovation among participants from the ULPGC, the UAc, and their European partners.

ULPGC and CE Team Promote “The University We Want” Essay Call to Gran Canaria Students

A team from the ULPGC and Consulta Europa embarked on a promotional tour across Gran Canaria from May 13th to 15th. Their mission? To spark enthusiasm among secondary school students for the “The University We Want” essay call.

CLAB ULPGC Fosters Social Innovation: Future Entrepreneurs Draw Inspiration from Diversity4Equality

Aspiring entrepreneurs from the CLAB ULPGC took a step forward in their journey toward social innovation by connecting with Maialen, the founder of Diversity4Equality, a social cooperative originating from Mondragón University. 

Join Us for a Workshop on Gender Diversity and Equality

The Vice-Rectorate for Research and Knowledge Transfer, in collaboration with the Vice-Rectorate for Social Outreach and Communication of the ULGPC along with Consulta Europa and the ATHENA Equality Project, invites you to participate in the upcoming Workshop on Gender Diversity and Equality, to be held on October 29, 2024, at the Aula de Piedra of the ULPGC Rectorate, starting from 09:45 AM. 

Ent-r-e-novators: The Open Science and Open Education workshop is now available to watch!

Discover how the EXPER Project, along with its sister project Ent-r-e-novators, is driving innovation in open science and education. Watch now to hear from Michelle Perello, a key member of the EXPER Project, and gain valuable insights into the future of open science.

Watch the video recap of the EXPER Summer School in Gran Canaria

The EXPER Summer School brought together researchers, academics, and industry experts in Gran Canaria to tackle climate change and ocean restoration through cutting-edge research and collaborative projects from July 17-19.

 

Watch our video recap to relive the key moments: engaging workshops, inspiring presentations, and the formation of powerful research networks aimed at shaping the future of sustainable innovation. Don’t miss the insights from top experts!

BETTER Life’s at the Czech Political Science Congress

On September 12th and 13th, members of the BETTER Life team, Milan Školník and Michael Haman, attended the Congress of the Czech Political Science Association, held in Ústí nad Labem, Northern Bohemia. 

WATERLINE DEU-DESUM Capacity Building Workshop

Train the Trainers workshops and capacity/collaboration building meetings, which are included in the mission statements of the WATERLINE project in order to support the increase of participation and cooperation in the European research area, continue! 

Organised Citizen Visits at the Finokalia Station in Crete

Two open-doors events were organised at the Finokalia station in Crete by the Edu4Climate Project. The Finokalia atmospheric monitoring station is operated by the Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory (ECPL) of the Department of Chemistry of the University of Crete since 1993. 

Looking ahead, the EXPER Project is preparing for a number of key milestones. A forum strategy is being established to foster continuous dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders, and the Monitoring and Impact Assessment Report will evaluate the project's progress so far.

 

Several important deliverables are on the horizon, including recommendations for implementing the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers and supporting researchers' career development. The EXPER Project is also addressing critical issues such as brain drain in the Azores and Canary Islands through a dedicated report. Additionally, work is underway to develop spin-off support offices and provide recommendations for improving intellectual property rights policies in widening higher education institutions.

 

The project will culminate in March 2025 with the EXPER Final Conference, where the achievements and key findings of the project will be presented to a broader audience.

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.