Creating a doctoral school, strengthening partnerships with the private sector and attracting talent, promoting more competitive and inclusive European research are some of the main objectives of the UNITE!Widening project, coordinated by Fátima Montemor, a professor and researcher at Instituto Superior Técnico of Universidade Lisboa.
The project aims to expand the University Alliance Unite!, promote diversity, and ensure equitable participation from all European regions in the advancement of science and knowledge. “With the support of strategic partners within local innovation ecosystems, Unite!Widening seeks to accelerate essential reforms and strengthen the competencies necessary to enhance research and innovation excellence in the Widening countries,” explains Fátima Montemor.
The strategic and operational development of Unite!Widening relies on the contribution of various professors and professionals from Técnico. Joana Mendonça and Marta Abrantes are members of the Scientific Advisory Board. Luís Silveira coordinates project management and quality assurance. Luís Correia is leading the Reform of Science, Research & Innovation institutional approaches. Beatriz Silva is in charge of innovation and knowledge transfer between Portugal and Poland. Rui Mendes is in charge of the training and capacity building programme for researchers. João Patrício brings his experience to the Quality Advisory Board, overseeing the project’s quality management. Isabel França, from Universidade de Lisboa, is involved in the project’s communication and outreach programme.
Unite!Widening is a strong and complementary partnership of nine leading European research universities, also partners in the University Alliance Unite!: Technische Universität Darmstadt (Germany), Graz University of Technology (Austria), Aalto University (Finland), Grenoble INP – UGA (France), KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden), Politecnico di Torino (Italy), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC) (Spain), Wrocław University of Science and Technology (Poland), and Universidade de Lisboa (Portugal).
In addition to the universities, the consortium has strategic partners in the innovation ecosystem, such as the Wrocław Technology Park and the Wrocław Agglomeration Development Agency, both in Poland, the LISPOLIS – Associação para o Pólo Tecnológico de Lisboa and AAVANZ Innovation, in Portugal. This collaboration aims to strengthen scientific and technological capabilities in the Widening countries, promoting more inclusive and equitable research at European level.
‘The results of Unite!Widening include new policy recommendations for strategic R&D areas in Widening countries, identification of gaps and strategic actions, and the development of training programmes to support young researchers,’ stresses Fátima, adding that ’these results are essential for strengthening the careers of young researchers and doctoral students, offering them training opportunities, mobility and access to infrastructures, contributing to the internationalisation of their doctoral projects.’
The project, which has been running since 2024, will be presented at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – Barcelona Tech (UPC) from 25 to 28 February at the sixth edition of the Unite! Dialogue. The event brings together higher education institutions, researchers and students from all over Europe.
The XI Unite! Dialogue will bring together professors, researchers, students and university managers from the nine institutions that make up the University Alliance Unite!. The theme of this year’s event is ‘Unite! Students: Our Soul, Our Core’, will focus on the central role of students in building a more integrated and dynamic university network, highlighting their contribution to the transformation of European higher education and research.
