From urban sustainability to preparing applications for the European Research Council (ERC), innovation, knowledge transfer, and the internationalisation of research were some topics addressed during the Unite! Widening Summer School – Innovation & Training Days, held at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, from July 14 to 16. Organised by Universidade de Lisboa, as part of the Unite! Widening project, the initiative brought together doctoral students, early-career researchers, and support staff from the Unite! Alliance partner universities for three days of training, experience-sharing, and skills development within the European research and innovation ecosystem.

Urban sustainability set the tone for the start of the scientific programme, as presented by Paulo Ferrão, a professor at Técnico and a researcher at the Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research (IN+). Citing examples such as energy efficiency in buildings, energy communities, and digital twins, the researcher highlighted the role of data integration and cross-sector collaboration in the transition to climate-neutral cities. “Carbon neutrality can’t be achieved through isolated solutions”, he noted. “We must connect energy, mobility, buildings, and public policies to build truly smart and resilient cities”.

The discussion on the impact of research on society continued with Joana Mendonça, vice president of Técnico for the Oeiras Campus. Drawing on the distinction between invention and innovation, she challenged the doctoral students to think about the journey that transforms a scientific discovery into a valuable solution. “Innovation happens when we change how people connect with an idea. This transformation turns knowledge into value”, she summarised.

The career path of early-career researchers was the focus of the session led by Marco Piccardo, a professor at Técnico and a researcher at the Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores – Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias (INESC-MN). He shared his experience in securing an ERC Starting Grant and explained that a competitive application is built “long before the proposal is written”. “It’s a journey that requires vision, preparation, and a truly transformative idea”, he emphasised, highlighting the importance of the planning process, interdisciplinarity, and building a consistent scientific trajectory.

“To create a space where researchers, students and professionals can learn together and find new collaboration opportunities”

“The quality of the sessions and the openness to discussing common challenges made this experience truly inspiring”, commented Magdalena Grzegorzewska-Gryglewicz, a participant from the Wrocław University of Science and Technology in Poland. “I’m taking away new perspectives and contacts for future collaborations”, she added, citing this opportunity as one of the “main reasons that motivated her to participate in the event”.

The international dimension of research was also a focus of the activities aimed at support and administrative staff. Rui Mendes, director of the International Affairs Unit at Técnico, led a session dedicated to European instruments for “strengthening the European Research Area,” encouraging reflection on the strategic role of internationalisation in creating partnerships and collaborative projects among universities.

The practical component of the training allowed participants to develop and evaluate proposals for various European funding programmes. “For those working behind the scenes in research, this training demonstrated how technical knowledge and international collaboration are essential for transforming good ideas into successful European projects”, noted Sandra Ponce, a project manager at the Centre for Marine Technology and Ocean Engineering (CENTEC).

The Summer School was held at various locations across Universidade de Lisboa and featured three training sessions aimed at doctoral students, early-career researchers, and support staff, as well as four workshops dedicated to research and innovation ecosystems, digital health, and urban sustainability.

According to Fátima Montemor, a professor at Técnico and coordinator of the Unite! Widening project, the various formats and audiences reflected the “true spirit of the initiative”. “We aimed to create a space where researchers, students and professionals can learn together and find new collaboration opportunities”, she said. “Strengthening these networks is one of the greatest contributions this initiative can make to the partner universities”.