Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ENLIGHT RISE (RESEARCH AND INNOVATION AGENDA WITH AND FOR SOCIETY: Leveraging digital innovation for a greener and healthier Europe)
Période du rapport: 2023-03-01 au 2024-08-31
The ENLIGHT RISE project aims to establish a common research and innovation (R&I) agenda within the ENLIGHT Alliance, addressing global challenges through innovative education and research in five flagship areas: Health & Well-being, Climate Change, Energy & Circular Economy, Digital Revolution, and Equity. RISE enhances ENLIGHT’s R&I, increasing competitiveness and innovation for a greener, healthier, and more equitable Europe.
Objective 1: A strong network of R&I support officers has been built, fostering knowledge exchange and long-term collaboration. Multiple joint proposals and researcher networks, established through RISE tools, will thrive beyond the project.
Objective 2: RISE successfully engaged R&I networks to address societal challenges, cultivating joint innovation and cooperation that will continue through collaborative R&I projects.
Objective 3: ENLIGHT’s R&I component was strengthened by raising awareness of the digital future, mapping digital resources, and exploring the interface between digital innovation and AI, including legal aspects.
Objective 4: The ENLIGHT European Innovation District's achievements are evident through AIMday events, connecting researchers and industry partners at regional and European levels. The ENLIGHT Innovation Network will continue sharing best practices and fostering collaboration in ENLIGHT 2.0.
Objective 5: All partners created overviews of their public engagement (PE) activities, establishing a network of PE experts for mutual learning and stepping up the Ladder of Engagement.
Objective 6: A solid Open Science agenda has been created, fostering knowledge exchange and synergies with areas such as Digital Research Infrastructures and Research(er) Assessment.
Objective 7: ENLIGHT provided early career researchers with training to enhance their skills, while experts contributed to the European discussion on reforming research assessment.
Objective 8: Enhanced impact awareness across the ENLIGHT universities has led to public tools for assessing and monitoring R&I activity impact, fostering collaboration with other university alliances.
Objective 1: A strong network of R&I support officers has been built, fostering knowledge exchange and long-term collaboration. Multiple joint proposals and researcher networks, established through RISE tools, will thrive beyond the project.
Objective 2: RISE successfully engaged R&I networks to address societal challenges, cultivating joint innovation and cooperation that will continue through collaborative R&I projects.
Objective 3: ENLIGHT’s R&I component was strengthened by raising awareness of the digital future, mapping digital resources, and exploring the interface between digital innovation and AI, including legal aspects.
Objective 4: The ENLIGHT European Innovation District's achievements are evident through AIMday events, connecting researchers and industry partners at regional and European levels. The ENLIGHT Innovation Network will continue sharing best practices and fostering collaboration in ENLIGHT 2.0.
Objective 5: All partners created overviews of their public engagement (PE) activities, establishing a network of PE experts for mutual learning and stepping up the Ladder of Engagement.
Objective 6: A solid Open Science agenda has been created, fostering knowledge exchange and synergies with areas such as Digital Research Infrastructures and Research(er) Assessment.
Objective 7: ENLIGHT provided early career researchers with training to enhance their skills, while experts contributed to the European discussion on reforming research assessment.
Objective 8: Enhanced impact awareness across the ENLIGHT universities has led to public tools for assessing and monitoring R&I activity impact, fostering collaboration with other university alliances.
The RISE project has successfully achieved its objectives according to the work plan.
WP1 established a network of R&I support officers from partner universities, facilitating 17 strategic joint R&I proposals, with a successful matchmaking event attended by nearly 200 participants. This network will continue as an ENLIGHT Expert Network (EEN).
WP2 enhanced the R&I Observatory to improve access to ENLIGHT expertise, resulting in joint proposals, some securing Horizon Europe funding. Early-stage researchers were incentivized through mobility awards and R&I prizes for promising projects.
WP3 focused on sharing and connecting through digital research infrastructures, promoting responsible digital tool use. Activities included best practice sharing, networking with societal partners, and digital events. Digital workshops and reports remain available online for further use.
WP4 organised two networking events for career development and created a centralized repository for leadership resources. The Research Assessment Working Group fostered mutual learning and produced a report on innovative evaluation practices.
WP5 organized the second ENLIGHT AIMday on "Digital Innovation in Health & Wellbeing" at NUI Galway and has formed the ENLIGHT RISE Innovation Network. This network includes Innovation Offices from each ENLIGHT university and regional industry partners, continuing on after the project as an EEN.
WP6 formed a Public Engagement (PE) network with over 90 participants following a mapping exercise of PE structures across ENLIGHT. A series of workshops and webinars supported mutual learning and strengthened the PE community of the alliance.
WP7 produced Open Science (OS) reports and established a strong OS agenda through the ENLIGHT OS Ambassadors, OS Award, Starter Kit, and joint OS principles signed by all partners. Collaborative webinars with the Arqus alliance further further enhanced the alliance’s OS initiatives.
WP8 conducted surveys to track impact awareness and organized an impact conference and awards. A repository of best practices and a self-assessment toolkit is now publicly accessible. Collaboration on R&I impact continues with 21 university alliances in the FOREU2 impact thematic subgroup.
WP1 established a network of R&I support officers from partner universities, facilitating 17 strategic joint R&I proposals, with a successful matchmaking event attended by nearly 200 participants. This network will continue as an ENLIGHT Expert Network (EEN).
WP2 enhanced the R&I Observatory to improve access to ENLIGHT expertise, resulting in joint proposals, some securing Horizon Europe funding. Early-stage researchers were incentivized through mobility awards and R&I prizes for promising projects.
WP3 focused on sharing and connecting through digital research infrastructures, promoting responsible digital tool use. Activities included best practice sharing, networking with societal partners, and digital events. Digital workshops and reports remain available online for further use.
WP4 organised two networking events for career development and created a centralized repository for leadership resources. The Research Assessment Working Group fostered mutual learning and produced a report on innovative evaluation practices.
WP5 organized the second ENLIGHT AIMday on "Digital Innovation in Health & Wellbeing" at NUI Galway and has formed the ENLIGHT RISE Innovation Network. This network includes Innovation Offices from each ENLIGHT university and regional industry partners, continuing on after the project as an EEN.
WP6 formed a Public Engagement (PE) network with over 90 participants following a mapping exercise of PE structures across ENLIGHT. A series of workshops and webinars supported mutual learning and strengthened the PE community of the alliance.
WP7 produced Open Science (OS) reports and established a strong OS agenda through the ENLIGHT OS Ambassadors, OS Award, Starter Kit, and joint OS principles signed by all partners. Collaborative webinars with the Arqus alliance further further enhanced the alliance’s OS initiatives.
WP8 conducted surveys to track impact awareness and organized an impact conference and awards. A repository of best practices and a self-assessment toolkit is now publicly accessible. Collaboration on R&I impact continues with 21 university alliances in the FOREU2 impact thematic subgroup.
During its final phase, RISE aimed to enhance R&I capacity across nine ecosystems by addressing key societal challenges, attracting and nurturing research talent, and promoting a culture of impact, open science, citizen engagement, and innovation among stakeholders. ENLIGHT RISE has been successful in these endeavours through the sustainable achievements and initiatives of its work packages.
Notable sustainable achievements include WP1’s established R&I support officers' network, which will continue beyond the project’s end. WP2’s R&I Observatory has made expertise accessible to the public, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration for the future. Moreover, the mobility awards and R&I prizes supported early career researchers, expanding networks and boosting the alliance's research capacity. WP3 highlighted the importance of digital research infrastructures, creating enhanced awareness for the alliance about the future importance of digital research infrastructures including those targeting innovation and AI. ENLIGHT is now poised to contribute to Digital Europe, equipping both students and young researchers with essential skills. For WP4, the foundation for future sustainable collaboration was laid by a partnership model that enabled continuous exchanges on good practices. The Research Assessment Working Group (RAWG) evolved into a sustainable community of evaluation experts within ENLIGHT —the Research(er) Assessment Expert Network (RAEN). The RAEN, comprising representatives from 10 ENLIGHT partners, strives to enhance and broaden the efforts started by the RAWG. For WP5, the report on gaps and opportunities in the market for skills and innovation has highlighted where strategic actions can contribute to further advancements of the alliance in fostering collaboration, driving innovation and nurturing talent. Funding opportunities at national and international level can be shared across the alliance. Networking events such as AIMday will foster collaboration and exchange of ideas, and the ENLIGHT Innovation Network (EIN) will work to monitor and assess the policy landscape in areas relevant to the alliance research and collaboration goals. WP6 has driven public engagement efforts across partner institutions, enhancing connections between academia, external partners, and the public in the regional surroundings. Some partners are also taking steps towards co-production of knowledge, through research and challenge-based teaching both with and for society. WP7 exceeded its goals by creating a network of OS experts, fostering collaboration with other EUAs and establishing joint ENLIGHT OS principles, now a reference point for the alliance and institutionally. Finally, WP8 contributed to enhancing impact awareness & policies across the alliance, leading to more standardized research impact practices. ENLIGHT also played a key role in promoting impact culture beyond the alliance through publications, advisory roles within other EUAs, leading the FOREU impact thematic group, & participating as impact experts and practitioners externally (EARMA, AESIS, UIIN).
Notable sustainable achievements include WP1’s established R&I support officers' network, which will continue beyond the project’s end. WP2’s R&I Observatory has made expertise accessible to the public, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration for the future. Moreover, the mobility awards and R&I prizes supported early career researchers, expanding networks and boosting the alliance's research capacity. WP3 highlighted the importance of digital research infrastructures, creating enhanced awareness for the alliance about the future importance of digital research infrastructures including those targeting innovation and AI. ENLIGHT is now poised to contribute to Digital Europe, equipping both students and young researchers with essential skills. For WP4, the foundation for future sustainable collaboration was laid by a partnership model that enabled continuous exchanges on good practices. The Research Assessment Working Group (RAWG) evolved into a sustainable community of evaluation experts within ENLIGHT —the Research(er) Assessment Expert Network (RAEN). The RAEN, comprising representatives from 10 ENLIGHT partners, strives to enhance and broaden the efforts started by the RAWG. For WP5, the report on gaps and opportunities in the market for skills and innovation has highlighted where strategic actions can contribute to further advancements of the alliance in fostering collaboration, driving innovation and nurturing talent. Funding opportunities at national and international level can be shared across the alliance. Networking events such as AIMday will foster collaboration and exchange of ideas, and the ENLIGHT Innovation Network (EIN) will work to monitor and assess the policy landscape in areas relevant to the alliance research and collaboration goals. WP6 has driven public engagement efforts across partner institutions, enhancing connections between academia, external partners, and the public in the regional surroundings. Some partners are also taking steps towards co-production of knowledge, through research and challenge-based teaching both with and for society. WP7 exceeded its goals by creating a network of OS experts, fostering collaboration with other EUAs and establishing joint ENLIGHT OS principles, now a reference point for the alliance and institutionally. Finally, WP8 contributed to enhancing impact awareness & policies across the alliance, leading to more standardized research impact practices. ENLIGHT also played a key role in promoting impact culture beyond the alliance through publications, advisory roles within other EUAs, leading the FOREU impact thematic group, & participating as impact experts and practitioners externally (EARMA, AESIS, UIIN).