Una.Resin piloted matchmaking activities within select Una Europa Focus Areas with the aim of connecting leading researchers. This was instrumental in the Research Coordination Cluster (RCC), an expert group of research funding advisors, being appointed as a permanent Una Europa body. Matchmaking activities will form a cornerstone of Una Europa’s External Funding Strategy in support of internationally renowned hubs for Research, Education and Knowledge Transfer. The project pioneered the creation of a Blueprint (an Una Europa digital catalogue of research infrastructures and a portal of services). Thanks to the involvement of research infrastructures under the Una.Resin project, a Virtual Museum of Una Europa partner universities’ heritage is in the making. Another Una.Resin pilot conceived a Citizen Science Toolkit to develop material for the integration of science and society in curricula, promoting citizen science, and engaging citizens. The Open Science pilot project offered a fresh look at the very idea of open science to made it more understandable to researchers, professional staff members, and the public. Una.Resin created a joint Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Team Science and a practically-oriented workshop for researchers and professional staff members, which together constitute an experimental format for the future skills development and certification framework of Una Europa. Una.Transfer was created to act as a preliminary prototype of a common catalogue of the Una.Resin research groups and their transferable (to the industry) research activities. We have engaged strongly with other European University alliances and the wider R&I sector. By sharing experiences and results, Una Europa is actively contributing to driving forward the transformation agenda of the European R&I system. Una Europa has chosen a strategic focus on collaboration with like-minded higher education institutions in Africa. In late 2023, Una Europa has extended its international collaboration to higher education institutions in Latin America. The flagship Una.Resin results include the development of the Alliance’s common R&I strategy, the development of the shared strategy for sharing RIRs and the development of the Una Europa’s Human Capital Development Strategy. Additionally, Una.Resin provided inspiration for a matrix exercise ranking priority areas and activities for the next years. The outcomes of this exercise (still ongoing) will fuel the development of a common R&I Action Plan for the Alliance. Finally, the pilot projects identified and tested solutions to overcome barriers that may hinder the establishment of a seamless, common R&I ecosystem. Going forward, Una Europa will promote the evolution into international hubs for education, R&I and societal outreach. ECRs will play a pivotal role in shaping the R&I landscape of tomorrow. The Una Europa Research Strategy Group was established as part of the Una.Resin project, bringing together Vice Rectors for Research Policy as part of the Alliance’s formal governance structure. The Una Europa Clusters, which bring together dedicated professional services colleagues in a wide variety of domains, have been key to the success of Una.Resin. Clusters will continue to strengthen collaboration, provide support for the Una Europa academic community and shape the practices and values that define the European higher education.
