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Enhancing Knowledge Valorisation Capacities in Universities and RPOs through strengthening KTO TTO Capacities for Smart City Research Valorisation and Institutional Transformation Across Europe

Objective

SMART-XFER’s overarching objective is to upgrade the capacities, services, and institutional models of Knowledge and Technology Transfer Offices (KTOs/TTOs) in universities and research-performing organisations (RPOs), with a specific focus on the valorisation of Smart City-related R&I results. By leveraging cities as real-world testbeds for innovation, the project will empower KTOs/TTOs to act as strategic enablers of multi-stakeholder knowledge transfer, policy translation, and urban entrepreneurship. Despite the progress in Smart City-related research across European universities and RPOs, the exploitation of R&I results remains uneven due to fragmented valorisation services, under-resourced KTOs/TTOs, and limited integration of entrepreneurial and impact-oriented skills in academic institutions. At the same time, Smart Cities offer an unparalleled opportunity to serve as living laboratories for testing and scaling innovations that address critical urban challenges—such as sustainable mobility, energy transition, digital governance, and inclusive services.
SMART-XFER tackles these gaps by delivering a pan-European capacity-building initiative that empowers knowledge transfer professionals and urban researchers to act as catalysts of change within their institutions and communities. Through experiential training, real-world pilots, and digital platform access, the project aims to:
• Enhance the capacities and hybrid skillsets of KTO/TTO staff, enabling them to better detect and valorise the market and societal potential of Smart City R&I results;
• Upgrade and systematise KTO/TTO services, creating replicable models for multi-stakeholder business development, policy engagement, and urban innovation transfer;
• Design and mainstream Smart City innovation curricula and micro-credentials, equipping students and researchers with the skills, tools, and entrepreneurial mindset necessary to ensure greater R&I uptake across Europe.

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06

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Coordinator

EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY OF TIRANA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 219 252,50
Address
NJESIA BASHKIAKE 4 RR XHANFIZE KEKO 56
1023 Tirana
Albania

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Region
Shqipëria Qender Tiranë
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 219 252,50

Participants (16)