UNITE.H2020: the future of European Universities in Research & Innovation

Title of the research project
UNITE.H2020 - Planning the Future of Research & Innovation in the European University Alliance Unite!
Scientific area
Academic cooperation, Research, Innovation
Abstract
The overall objective of UNITE.H2020 is to develop a shared, integrated, long-term R&I strategy for the seven universities of the Unite! European University Alliance. This strategy will focus specifically on the Green Deal, social impact, the Sustainable Development Goals and the “Clusters” and “Missions” of the Horizon Europe research and innovation framework programme.
Description of the research project
The European Commission invited the European universities to create transnational alliances that will become the universities of the future, promoting European values and identity, and revolutionizing the quality and competitiveness of European higher education and research. Unite! is one of the first 17 European University Alliances. It is composed by 7 universities in the STEM field that decided to develop a long-term joint strategy for education addressing societal challenges and offering inter-university ‘campus’ curricula where students, doctoral candidates, faculty and staff are mobile at all levels. Through this UNITE.H2020 project, the Alliance takes up the challenge launched by the European Commission to develop, in synergy with its education dimension, a shared, integrated, long-term research and innovation strategy. During the 3 years of the project, several pilot initiatives will be developed in the field of Energy, with special reference to the Green Deal, Industry 4.0 and Artificial Intelligence.
The project will also make possible planning common strategies for human resources, sharing research infrastructures, enhancing cooperation with non-academic actors in research and innovation, integrating Open Science, engaging citizens, civil society and public institutions, aiming also at exploring the collaboration potential with other European University Alliances.
Impact on society
The actions proposed in this project will allow Unite! universities to address together grand societal challenges in an effective way and, consequently, produce a larger impact than separately.
Working group @Polito
WP1 - Project management
Roberto Zanino, Full Professor, Vice Rector for European Relations, project coordinator
Giorgia Novajra, Research Support Department
Valentina Romano, Research Support Department
Antonella Castellani, Research Support Department
WP2 - Common Research and Innovation Agenda
Gianmario Pellegrino, Full Professor, Rector’s Advisor for the Interdepartmental Centers
Valentina Romano, Research Support Department
Elisa Ambrosio, Research Support Department
WP3 - Sharing infrastructures and resources
Stefano Corgnati, Full Professor, Vice Rector for Research
Francesca Spinazzola, Research Support Department
Valeria Di Caro, Research Support Department
WP4 - Reinforcing academia-business cooperation
Alessandra Colombelli, Associate Professor
Shiva Loccisano, Technology Transfer Department
Ilenia Bertorello, Research Support Department
WP5 - Strengthening human capital
Claudia De Giorgi, Full Professor, Vice Rector for Quality, Welfare and Equal Opportunities
Arianna Montorsi, Associate Professor, Rector's Advisor for Gender Equality and Diversity
Chiara Biglia, Research Support Department
Elisa Pasquini, Research Support Department
WP6 - Creating a High Impact European Open Science and Innovation University
Federica Cappelluti, Associate Professor
Sara Rollino, Research Support Department
Silvia Tabotta, Research Support Department
Shalini Kurapati, Research Fellow
Paola Ferrero, Culture and Communication Department
WP7 - A UNITE! strategy for societal outreach and involvement of citizens in R&I
Juan Carlos De Martin, Full Professor, Vice Rector for Culture and Communication
Elisa Tinozzi, Culture and Communication Department
Isabella Susa, Research Support Department
WP8 - Exploring collaboration potential and joint structures of European University Alliances
Roberto Zanino, Full Professor, Vice Rector for European Relations, project coordinator
Giorgia Novajra, Research Support Department
WP9 - Disseminating and communicating Unite!
Elena Foglia Franke, Culture and Communication Department
Arianna Armao, Culture and Communication Department
Agnieszka Furman, Research Support Department
Mattia Plazio, Culture and Communication Department
National and International partners
Politecnico di Torino, Italy
Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble/Universite’ Grenoble Alpes, France
Universitat Politecnica De Catalunya, Spain
Universidade de Lisboa/ Instituto Superior tecnico, Portugal
Aalto Korkeakoulusaatio Sr, Finland
Kungliga Tekniska Hoegskolan Sweden
Technische Universitat Darmstadt, Germany
UNITE.H2020 project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No. 101017408
- Budget: 2.000.000 euro
- Start date: 1/01/2021
- End date: 31/12/2023