RIS4SEB — Enhancing Research and Innovation Synergies for Schools of Economics and Business — tackles structural barriers that limit the participation of business and economics schools from Widening countries in Horizon Europe and other international research programmes. Although these institutions have benefitted from national and regional funding to build research infrastructure, they often face challenges in translating this potential into international collaboration, due to fragmented research strategies, limited research management capacity, and restricted access to global networks.
The project brings together the Prague University of Economics and Business (Czechia) as coordinators, Kaunas University of Technology - School of Economics and Business (Lithuania), and Estonian Business School (Estonia), under the mentorship of Bocconi University (Italy). Together, they work to strengthen excellence, competitiveness, and integration of research in the field of economics and business across the European Research Area.
The overall objective of RIS4SEB is to design and pilot three interlinked strategies that help institutions make better use of national and EU investments in research and innovation: (1) Joint Internationalisation Strategy (JIS) that aligns institutional R&I agendas, identifies shared thematic priorities, and expands participation in Horizon Europe and related programmes; (2) a Human Resources (HR) Strategy that develops and retains research talent while professionalising research management; and (3) a Research Management (RM) Strategy that enhances institutional processes and governance to support sustained participation in international projects.
Through these strategies, RIS4SEB promotes a systemic improvement of the research environment, enhances international collaboration, and empowers researchers and managers to successfully compete for EU funding.
Although the project is currently at its midpoint, early pathways to impact are already visible. The partners have begun to use the networks, templates, and shared methodologies developed under RIS4SEB to strengthen cooperation across institutions and to prepare joint participation in Horizon Europe calls. Initial results—such as a comprehensive mapping of 20+ international research networks, active engagement in brokerage events, and the first collaborative proposal preparations—demonstrate clear progress toward the project’s long-term ambitions.
The expected impact by the end of the project is threefold:
(1) Scientific and institutional: stronger research performance, higher visibility, and enhanced capacity of Widening institutions to coordinate international projects;
(2) Economic and policy-related: more effective use of public R&I investments and improved synergies between Horizon Europe and regional/national funding instruments;
(3) Societal: greater contribution of business and economics research to Europe’s sustainable growth, digital transition, and resilient labour markets.
By creating a transferable model for research excellence in the social sciences and humanities domain, RIS4SEB contributes to a more inclusive and interconnected European Research Area, enabling institutions from Widening countries to act as equal partners in shaping Europe’s innovation landscape.
