The activities in RP02 smoothly followed the achievements from the RP01. During RP02, key tasks and deliverables for institutional transformation strategies were successfully implemented. Significant progress included active partner participation in project activities, knowledge exchange, joint research, and stakeholder engagement through Living Labs. Tangible outputs included the development of the I4E R&I Strategy, defining the INVEST mission, vision, goals, and actions, along with a common R&I agenda and a roadmap for achieving the INVEST vision by 2030.
The I4E Internationalization Strategy provided a framework for enhancing transnational R&I activities and fostered collaboration through the SCIENCE4REGIONS network, aiming to attract new member universities and ensure sustainability. Substantial advancements in RDI capacity were achieved through stakeholder engagement, competency mapping, and the creation of Open Science (OS) training materials and tools. The RDI matrix highlighted key competencies in sustainability and informed stakeholder tools, offering insights into regional and institutional perspectives. Practical tools for stakeholder involvement and RDI online training were also developed, supporting effective implementation of frameworks and methods. By the end of RP02, all deliverables were submitted and tasks completed.
In dissemination, the following activities have been carried out throughout the whole project:
organisation of a conference (5); organisation of a workshop (20); press releases (10); popularised publications (10); exhibitions (6); flyers (5); trainings (7); TV spot (1); participation to conferences (31); participations to workshops (6); participation to other events (20); video (1); participation in activities organised jointly with other EU projects (8); and other events (27) with I4E dissemination.
Project was also presented via social media, newsletters and regularly updated website.
INVEST4EXCELLENCE achieved a robust scholarly output, including 49 conference publications, 29 journal publications, and 11 other types of publications. These outputs reflect a broad dissemination strategy across high-impact academic channels and targeted industry events. Of these publications, five are joint efforts among multiple partner universities, showcasing the collaborative nature of the consortium and its commitment to shared academic objectives.
