Connecting regions, empowering universities through stronger R&I policies

On 2 October 2025, the Policy Learning Platform and UIIN will host an e-workshop focusing on connecting regions, empowering universities through stronger R&I policies.

What it will be about

Research and research-based education provided by universities are major assets for the competitiveness of Europe, and a prerequisite to solve societal challenges and maintain the value added of its products and services in the future.

Universities and their academic and non-academic partners in the innovation ecosystem help materialise the transitions our society needs in terms of creating and circulating knowledge, upskilling talent and fostering societal engagement; they are a crucial source of talent and knowledge for Europe’s innovation ecosystem.

The European Commission supports these ambitions through several programmes, notably the ERA and more specifically the Widera call 'Acceleration Services in support of the institutional transformation of Higher Education Institutions'.

Many regional ecosystems rely heavily on their research and innovation ecosystem actors to support their competitiveness, and they are integral parts of the triple helix stakeholder community. Regional authorities will often work in partnership with HEI actors to support place-based innovation, develop technology transfer facilities, acceleration services, and provide spaces for innovation, for example, through technology platforms.

Many Interreg Europe projects have decided to focus on how they can support and design better policies to enhance cooperation and synergies with their HEI communities.  These initiatives often seek to remove barriers and develop projects and infrastructures that can both improve research excellence, regional attractiveness, and support the growth of their business community. They also support cohesion policy objectives and stimulate interregional connections.

The event will bring together Interreg Europe project partners, regional policymakers, university representatives, and Horizon Europe stakeholders to discuss effective policy solutions and share good practices from across Europe.

Agenda

Please note that this is an interactive e-workshop, and we highly encourage your active participation!

To get the most out of the session, we recommend having your microphone and camera on during Q&A sessions and working groups, allowing for better engagement and exchange with speakers and fellow participants.

14:00-14h30  Welcome and introduction

• Interreg Europe, the programme and its Platform,
  Joint Secretariat (tbc)
   
• University Innovation Industry Network,
  Rimante Rusaite (tbc)
   
• Widening participation and spreading excellence, policy and strategy,
  Rinske Van den Berg, Project Adviser, European Research Executive Agency (REA) (tbc)

14h30-15h30 Session 1: Current approaches to delivering HEI acceleration processes – insights from project partners

• Sharing Experiences on Testing and Implementing HEI Acceleration services : Accelerate Future HEI (Widera),
  Rimante Rusaite, UIIN (tbc)
   
• The Tampere strategy for R&I infrastructures,  
  Marja-Riitta Mattila-Numi, Council of Tampere Region (Interreg Europe InnoHEIs project)
   
• The role of Universities in the Catalonian innovation ecosystem,
  Ricard Esparza Masana, Autonomous University of Barcelona (Interreg Europe InnoHEIs project)
   
• The role of digital platforms in accelerating transfer activities 
  Jesus Alcobar, UPC aUPaEU  (Widera)

15h30-15h45 Coffee Break

15h45-16h45 Session 2: How to create interregional synergies in support of HEI Accelerator Services

• Scouting Public Lab Inventions: Bridging Innovation in Grand Est,
  Antoine Parmentier, SATT Alsace Connectus, Interreg Europe project VIADUCT (tbc)
   
• Living lab and community of practices,
  Laura Mentini, APRE (Agency for the Promotion of European Research), Widera project Catalisi (tbc)
   
• Knowledge Co-Creation Hubs and Rurality,  
  Karin Nygard Skalman Mid Sweden University – ORIGINN (tbc)

Followed by a Q&A session and a panel discussion 

16h45-17h15 Session 3 - Plenary with all speakers 

17h15-17h30  Wrap-up and conclusion

17h30 -18h00
Online expert helpdesk 

From 17h30 -18h00 CEST, the experts for a Smarter Europe are available to discuss specific needs and policy challenges during a 10-minute online policy helpdesk meeting. You can indicate your interest and topic of discussion in the registration form below.