WIDEn performance in research and innovation capacity and competence Across EU

Project Information

WIDE AcrossEU

Grant agreement ID: 101158561

DOI

10.3030/101158561

EC signature date 26 March 2024

Start date 1 May 2024

End date 31 August 2027

Funded under

• Widening participation and spreading excellence

Total cost

€ 1 200 000,00

EU contribution

€ 1 200 000,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERZITA PARDUBICE
Czechia

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - WIDE AcrossEU (WIDEn performance in research and innovation capacity and competence Across EU)

Reporting period: 2024-05-01 to 2025-07-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Wide AcrossEU is a project aimed to strengthen and upscale the abilities of three partner universities from widening countries (Czechia, North Macedonia, and Ukraine) to participate in international R&I funding schemes. This will be achieved with the cooperation of two experienced partner universities from Finland and Sweden, through skills and competence building and network actions.
The consortium partners have diverse experience with participation in Horizon Europe, Synergic EU R&I funding, Smart Specialisation Clusters, and other international R&I funding schemes. The partners from widening countries face significant challenges when trying to take part in the prior mentioned programmes, mainly because of the lack of experience and poorly established R&I funding infrastructures. The two partner universities from Sweden and Finland are taking part in the project to contribute their know-how, and to help strengthen and upscale universities form widening countries to a higher level through capacity, skills and competence building and networking actions.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The key objective of the “WIDE AcrossEU” project is to move participants from the widening countries, who are current beneficiaries of regional funding programmes (ERDF, IPA, Interreg and similar investments for R&I infrastructure), to a higher level by preparing them for broader and more successful participation in direct EU funding programmes.
To achieve this, first an analysis of R&I capacity and competence building will be organised, followed by the acquisition of new transferable skills through training courses, workshops, and seminars. Subsequently, the exploitation of R&I funding opportunities and networks will be augmented using a joint online platform and cross-border cooperation, and policy support and synergies in the areas of R&I and HR management will be enhanced. All activities will be supported by intensive communication activities.
The project will last 40 months, starting in May 2024 and ending in August 2027.

In the first reporting period the project consortium achieved:
• 1 map of the needs and requirements of target groups in Widening partners created
• 21 project staff members from UPCE, UKIM and ZPSU trained
• 492 participations in trainings
• 347 staff members (from target groups 1 and 2 (academics, researchers and administrative staff) advised and supported
• 1 Joint R&I international strategic priorities developed
• 1 Joint priorities for more harmonized institutional HR strategy developed
• 1 application for HRS4R award initiated
• 88 project proposals submitted by UPCE, UKIM and ZPSU (32 with the lead coordination role. UKIM and ZPSU submitted more project proposals, those projects are results of project preparation from previous established collaborations and networks
• 13 R&I funding programmes used (HE, Erasmus, COST, ERDF, IPA, Interreg Europe, EIT, LIFE and others)
• 1 joint project proposal accepted and granted (Erasmus+)
• 2 new joint project proposals preparation initiated (HE and COST)
• 23 meetings with ministries, local authorities and industry
• 29 meetings with NCPs
• 1 online platform of R&I infrastructures created
• 8 excellent European R&I networks and communities shared among partners
Deliverables submitted (all in time):
D1.1 Analyses of the needs, requirements and expectations of target groups
D4.1 Joint R&I international strategic priorities and joint HR strategic priorities
D4.2 R&I infrastructure online platform
D5.1 Plan for dissemination and exploitation inclucing communication activites
D5.2 Project webpage
D6.1 Data management plan

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

At the end of the project, we expect participants from widening countries to professionalise their project management infrastructure and to participate directly in EU funding programmes to a greater extent than now.
This improvement process will manifest itself through the project implementation, and also afterwards by the outcomes in three main areas:
1. Improved and more systematic synergies between Horizon Europe, and ERDF, IPA, RRF, INTERREG, and overall European R&I networks through internationalisation, valorisation and technology uptake.
2. Increased competitiveness and reputation in applications for European and international research funding through accelerated knowledge transfer and innovation cycle for beneficiaries from ERDF and Horizon Europe.
3. Established R&I networks and strategic R&I priorities in compliance with smart specialisations.

In the first reporting period we achieved following impact:
Increased science and innovation capacity for all actors from Widening countries
Increased attractiveness and retention of research talents
Higher participation success in HE calls and our consortium leadership role of HEIs from Widening countries
Strengthened role of HEIs in R&I
Mobilised national and EU resources for strategical investment
Stronger links between academia and business and improved career permeability
Greater involvement of regional actors in the R&I process
Improved outreach to international level for all actors

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