In recent times, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the EU have faced a period of challenges in ensuring a high level of performance in Research and Innovation (R&I), coupled with the emergence of increasing disparities between EU countries (less performing Member States so called Widening Countries) and regions (the rising concentration of economic and innovative activities in major capitals and metropolitan areas, juxtaposed with the decline of industrial or peripheral regions).
HEIs need to address the existing performance gaps and create an R&I system in which European HEIs can jointly engage in the creation of high quality knowledge toward the university of the future. For HEIs, there is an urgent need of institutional changes to strengthen their R&I capacity in areas such as open science and digitisation of research, reform of research assessment, recognition of research career qualifications, gender equality and inclusiveness, strengthening of research infrastructures in the context of the local ecosystem.
The main objective of CATALISI is to support and encourage HEIs to effectively implement a strategy and an individual pathway for institutional transformation through the use of 7 Acceleration Services. These services are meant as helping HEIs to successfully implement a strategy and roadmap, accelerating institutional changes in the field of R&I. CATALISI is carried out by a consortium of 11 partners from 8 EU Member States, covering different geographical areas of Europe, including 3 partners from widening countries. Among the 11 partners, 7 are HEIs, defined “implementers” toward their institutional transformation, and 3 partners are “facilitators”.
CATALISI is expected to bring significant impacts across scientific, economic, and social dimensions. Firstly, the scientific impact: HEIs will increase their competitive capacity related to open science practices and the strengthening of human capital, fostering a more open and inclusive R&I system. The economic impact is indirectly achieved in the long run thanks to the access to financial resources, establishing a funding network and investment strategy that accelerates resource accessibility. On the societal front, impacts will derive from the development of policy recommendations to support future policies and actions and from the contribution to the creation of an R&I system well aligned with society’s needs and expectations (also through the dialogue between multiple stakeholders).
