Periodic Reporting for period 2 - CATALISI (Catalysation of institutional transformations of Higher Education Institutions through the adoption of acceleration services)
Période du rapport: 2024-01-01 au 2025-12-31
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).
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).
During RP2, CATALISI completed the co-design, implementation and evaluation of institutional transformation processes in 7 implementing HEIs, supported by the 7 acceleration services. In the framework of the 7 Acting Living Labs, each HEI consolidated its Transformational Pathway and Action Plan through two implementation cycles, applying iterative testing, stakeholder engagement and adaptive adjustments in real institutional contexts. Implementation was supported by a structured knowledge sharing and mutual learning programme, including 13 webinars, 7 Mobilisation and Mutual Learning workshops and 21 Twinning exchanges.
The project generated methodological and evidence-based knowledge on how institutional transformation in R&I can be designed, monitored and sustained. Key achievements include: the completion of the Predictive Study on skills anticipation; the consolidation of the Catalyst Hub; monitoring and evaluation of the Action Plans, Transformational Pathways and acceleration services; 7 comparable case studies; a replicable framework of acceleration services; a coaching and support mechanism for institutional transformation in various areas; the development of policy recommendations; the consolidation of the Community of Practice through its animation and involvement in project activities,; synergy and collaboration with 12+ other EU projects and initiatives; the engagement of more than 1500 stakeholders from 20 EU and non-EU countries.
As main outcome, CATALISI strengthened HEIs’ institutional capacities in Open Science, research assessment, research culture, public engagement and research sustainability, producing a transferable methodology for long-term R&I institutional transformation.
The project generated methodological and evidence-based knowledge on how institutional transformation in R&I can be designed, monitored and sustained. Key achievements include: the completion of the Predictive Study on skills anticipation; the consolidation of the Catalyst Hub; monitoring and evaluation of the Action Plans, Transformational Pathways and acceleration services; 7 comparable case studies; a replicable framework of acceleration services; a coaching and support mechanism for institutional transformation in various areas; the development of policy recommendations; the consolidation of the Community of Practice through its animation and involvement in project activities,; synergy and collaboration with 12+ other EU projects and initiatives; the engagement of more than 1500 stakeholders from 20 EU and non-EU countries.
As main outcome, CATALISI strengthened HEIs’ institutional capacities in Open Science, research assessment, research culture, public engagement and research sustainability, producing a transferable methodology for long-term R&I institutional transformation.
CATALISI goes beyond the state of the art by demonstrating how institutional transformation in R&I can be concretely implemented, monitored and sustained within HEIs. Rather than producing standalone initiatives of reforms, the project developed and tested a structured acceleration model combining Living Labs, tailored Transformational Pathways, coaching mechanisms, shared monitoring tools and a digital collaboration environment (the Catalyst Hub).
A key contribution lies in translating EU priorities such as Open Science, research assessment reform and research integrity into concrete institutional actions embedded in governance processes. Through iterative implementation cycles and continuous evaluation, the project showed how changes can move from strategy to practice while remaining adaptable to different institutional contexts. The 7 case studies and the replicable framework of acceleration services provide practical guidance for other HEIs willing to undertake similar transformation processes.
CATALISI also strengthened capacities at multiple levels: enhancing skills and governance practices within institutions, fostering collaboration across stakeholders, and supporting more sustainable approaches to funding and strategic planning.
Further uptake will depend on long-term institutional commitment to transformation pathways and acceleration services developed as well as on the alignment with national and EU R&I policies and further funding opportunities.
A key contribution lies in translating EU priorities such as Open Science, research assessment reform and research integrity into concrete institutional actions embedded in governance processes. Through iterative implementation cycles and continuous evaluation, the project showed how changes can move from strategy to practice while remaining adaptable to different institutional contexts. The 7 case studies and the replicable framework of acceleration services provide practical guidance for other HEIs willing to undertake similar transformation processes.
CATALISI also strengthened capacities at multiple levels: enhancing skills and governance practices within institutions, fostering collaboration across stakeholders, and supporting more sustainable approaches to funding and strategic planning.
Further uptake will depend on long-term institutional commitment to transformation pathways and acceleration services developed as well as on the alignment with national and EU R&I policies and further funding opportunities.