Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SMART-ER (ECIU University Research Institute for Smart European Regions)
Reporting period: 2022-08-01 to 2024-01-31
The European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU), an established university alliance with a common profile and expertise at the forefront of innovative education and research, launched ECIU University in November 2019 under the flagship European Universities Initiative (EUI). ECIU University is creating a new model of higher education at a European scale. To further develop and strengthen its research dimension, the creation process for the ECIU Virtual Research Institute for Smart European Regions (SMART-ER VRI) commenced in February 2021 over a three-year period, supported by Horizon 2020 (H2020) funding. SMART-ER suggests a new model of barrier-free collaboration overcoming languages, borders, disciplines and sectors, pushing the barriers of fundamental research and applied science, mobilizing innovation ecosystems and empowering engaged and active citizens to transform the way we live and work, choosing a bottom-up, research community approach.
This virtual research institutes aimed to boost R&I collaboration actions through 3 main objectives:
O1. To develop a common Research & Innovation agenda and convergence action plan, in synergy with education strategies and regional engagement, sharing infrastructures and resources
O2. To develop and implement strategies for strengthening human capital and collaborations in research and innovation
O3. To promote and integrate dialogue with society in R&I activities of SMART-ER
This virtual research institutes aimed to boost R&I collaboration actions through 3 main objectives:
O1. To develop a common Research & Innovation agenda and convergence action plan, in synergy with education strategies and regional engagement, sharing infrastructures and resources
O2. To develop and implement strategies for strengthening human capital and collaborations in research and innovation
O3. To promote and integrate dialogue with society in R&I activities of SMART-ER
An overview of the project objectives and how they are achieved through the whole project are provided below:
i.TO DEVELOP A COMMON RESEARCH & INNOVATION AGENDA AND CONVERGENCE ACTION PLAN AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION, SHARING INFRASTRUCTURES AND RESOURCES, IN SYNERGY WITH EDUCATION STRATEGIES AND REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT
During the first reporting period, SMART-ER reported the R&I Agenda developed within ECIU through a co-creative process, with topics of common interest identified by researchers. To develop a joint and shared R&I agenda on the four key topics, the corresponding Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the convergent action plan for the pilot phase, the SMART-ER produced D1.2 (Co-created research agenda), D1.5 (Evaluation and monitoring model) and D2.1 (Statutes of the SMART-ER pilot phase) meeting, Milestone (MS) 1 and 2 of the project.
To support the agenda and facilitate international challenge-based research, during the second reporting period SMART-ER built on an innovative governance model lead by interdisciplinary communities of researchers and stakeholders across the ECIU network working together in addressing societal challenges in thematic areas linked to SGD 11 (Circular Economy, Energy and Sustainability, Resilient communities, Transport and Mobility + Citizen Science as a cross-cutting, transdisciplinary area). Each of these 5 communities was led by a so-called Research Field Coordinator who spurred opportunities for networking, sharing best practices, finding partners and developing joint proposals for funding.
ii.TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES FOR STRENGTHENING HUMAN CAPITAL IN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
During the first reporting period the SMART-ER academy and the SMART-ER Seed Programme developed the scope and guidelines for the different types of seed funding.
The Academy included a mapping of training capacities in the consortium and the design of an Online PhD Training Programme and an Open Science and Leadership Training Programme for Researchers, while the SMART-ER Seed Programme developed the scope and guidelines for the different types of funding. Both actions, encompassed within WP3, were reported in D3.1 (Training programmes) and D3.2 (Seed programme guidelines). Both programmes launched actions at M12 (meeting MS3) that will keep running until M34, in the scope of tasks 3.3 and assessed through the implementation of task 3.4.
During the second reporting period, ECIU SMART-ER Academy and Seed program were fully implemented and assessed and reported in D 3.3. Both actions have offered a novel approach to formal and informal training and mobility through capacity programmes, research networks, co-tutelles and seed projects.
iii.TO EMBED CITIZENS AND SOCIETY, INVOLVING AND ENGAGING CITIZENS, CIVIL SOCIETY AND AUTHORITIES IN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
During the first reporting period, efforts were focused to provide a comprehensive overview of public engagement (PE) practices (D4.1) in the context of ECIU-SMART-ER, to articulate a Community of Practice for Public Engagement meeting MS4 (D4.2). Also, meeting MS5 the Virtual Citizen Science Hub (https://www.csinitiative.eu/(opens in new window)) was established and launched as a collaborative portal for pooling expertise, sharing resources, data and projects and to build a community of Citizen Science while pilot projects 3 intersectoral and multidisciplinary pilots were successfully co-created.
The second reporting period have included the implementation, monitoring and assessment of the 3 pilots. The citizen science expertise resulted in different documents regarding recommendation and lesson learnt form the different experiences (D5.2 Position paper on public engagement).
The ECIU Research Conference 3 was a successful attempt at redesigning conferences to integrate stakeholders and co-create new challenge-based questions for future collaborations.
i.TO DEVELOP A COMMON RESEARCH & INNOVATION AGENDA AND CONVERGENCE ACTION PLAN AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION, SHARING INFRASTRUCTURES AND RESOURCES, IN SYNERGY WITH EDUCATION STRATEGIES AND REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT
During the first reporting period, SMART-ER reported the R&I Agenda developed within ECIU through a co-creative process, with topics of common interest identified by researchers. To develop a joint and shared R&I agenda on the four key topics, the corresponding Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the convergent action plan for the pilot phase, the SMART-ER produced D1.2 (Co-created research agenda), D1.5 (Evaluation and monitoring model) and D2.1 (Statutes of the SMART-ER pilot phase) meeting, Milestone (MS) 1 and 2 of the project.
To support the agenda and facilitate international challenge-based research, during the second reporting period SMART-ER built on an innovative governance model lead by interdisciplinary communities of researchers and stakeholders across the ECIU network working together in addressing societal challenges in thematic areas linked to SGD 11 (Circular Economy, Energy and Sustainability, Resilient communities, Transport and Mobility + Citizen Science as a cross-cutting, transdisciplinary area). Each of these 5 communities was led by a so-called Research Field Coordinator who spurred opportunities for networking, sharing best practices, finding partners and developing joint proposals for funding.
ii.TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES FOR STRENGTHENING HUMAN CAPITAL IN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
During the first reporting period the SMART-ER academy and the SMART-ER Seed Programme developed the scope and guidelines for the different types of seed funding.
The Academy included a mapping of training capacities in the consortium and the design of an Online PhD Training Programme and an Open Science and Leadership Training Programme for Researchers, while the SMART-ER Seed Programme developed the scope and guidelines for the different types of funding. Both actions, encompassed within WP3, were reported in D3.1 (Training programmes) and D3.2 (Seed programme guidelines). Both programmes launched actions at M12 (meeting MS3) that will keep running until M34, in the scope of tasks 3.3 and assessed through the implementation of task 3.4.
During the second reporting period, ECIU SMART-ER Academy and Seed program were fully implemented and assessed and reported in D 3.3. Both actions have offered a novel approach to formal and informal training and mobility through capacity programmes, research networks, co-tutelles and seed projects.
iii.TO EMBED CITIZENS AND SOCIETY, INVOLVING AND ENGAGING CITIZENS, CIVIL SOCIETY AND AUTHORITIES IN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
During the first reporting period, efforts were focused to provide a comprehensive overview of public engagement (PE) practices (D4.1) in the context of ECIU-SMART-ER, to articulate a Community of Practice for Public Engagement meeting MS4 (D4.2). Also, meeting MS5 the Virtual Citizen Science Hub (https://www.csinitiative.eu/(opens in new window)) was established and launched as a collaborative portal for pooling expertise, sharing resources, data and projects and to build a community of Citizen Science while pilot projects 3 intersectoral and multidisciplinary pilots were successfully co-created.
The second reporting period have included the implementation, monitoring and assessment of the 3 pilots. The citizen science expertise resulted in different documents regarding recommendation and lesson learnt form the different experiences (D5.2 Position paper on public engagement).
The ECIU Research Conference 3 was a successful attempt at redesigning conferences to integrate stakeholders and co-create new challenge-based questions for future collaborations.
DIRECT IMPACT
1. SMART-ER has reached 3597 researchers from all partners institutions, from those 1028 have directly participated through the different activities performed in SMART-ER (including all WP’s).
2. 12 training courses have been fully implemented by the SMART-ER academy including approximately 484 researchers trained in different transferable skills intimately related with Open science practices.
3. CS platform that will be embedded in the whole ECIU platform to facilitate research collaboration. 9 public administration, 1 SME and multiple schools and associations have been involved in the different pilots generating strong engagement with the cities and ecosystem.
4. More than 12M€ of external research funding obtained through collaborations born from SMART-ER project.
5. 5 communities of practices including 4H stakeholders with enough critical mass and interest to continue working together in CBR that will remain connected through the R&I Hub.
6. More than 300 people from the 12 Universities participated in the ECIU Research conference including the 10% of external stakeholders.
7. A number of positions papers, scientific publications and recommendation provided to the European Commission to assess and design the future of the R&I in the European Universities.
8. Policy impact: SMART-ER has been used as a narrative for how Challenge based approach, citizen science and public engagement can contribute to increase the impact of academic research. SMART-ER has been invited to present its process model and implementation pathway in workshops, seminars, conferences to illustrate this impact.
9. Impact on public administration and business sector: With the better understanding of Challenge based Research and public engagement gained in the SMART-ER project through the different CS pilots, seed projects and the ECIU Research conference.
10. Legacy: SMART-ER has actively planned to preserve the network after the project funding ends by the agreement of universities to keep funding the seed programme and also Erasmus + platform, R&I Hub to use.
1. SMART-ER has reached 3597 researchers from all partners institutions, from those 1028 have directly participated through the different activities performed in SMART-ER (including all WP’s).
2. 12 training courses have been fully implemented by the SMART-ER academy including approximately 484 researchers trained in different transferable skills intimately related with Open science practices.
3. CS platform that will be embedded in the whole ECIU platform to facilitate research collaboration. 9 public administration, 1 SME and multiple schools and associations have been involved in the different pilots generating strong engagement with the cities and ecosystem.
4. More than 12M€ of external research funding obtained through collaborations born from SMART-ER project.
5. 5 communities of practices including 4H stakeholders with enough critical mass and interest to continue working together in CBR that will remain connected through the R&I Hub.
6. More than 300 people from the 12 Universities participated in the ECIU Research conference including the 10% of external stakeholders.
7. A number of positions papers, scientific publications and recommendation provided to the European Commission to assess and design the future of the R&I in the European Universities.
8. Policy impact: SMART-ER has been used as a narrative for how Challenge based approach, citizen science and public engagement can contribute to increase the impact of academic research. SMART-ER has been invited to present its process model and implementation pathway in workshops, seminars, conferences to illustrate this impact.
9. Impact on public administration and business sector: With the better understanding of Challenge based Research and public engagement gained in the SMART-ER project through the different CS pilots, seed projects and the ECIU Research conference.
10. Legacy: SMART-ER has actively planned to preserve the network after the project funding ends by the agreement of universities to keep funding the seed programme and also Erasmus + platform, R&I Hub to use.