Research and Innovation

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    Information icon.svg UNITA Research & Innovation Strategy: This document outlines the roadmap to transition from R&I Hubs into six sustainable European Research & Innovation Institutes (ER2I) by 2034.

    Title: UNITA Research & Innovation Strategy[edit | edit source]

    Goal: To structure sustainable European R&I institutes (ER2I) anchored in peripheral, cross-border, rural, and mountainous ecosystems by 2034.

    Executive Description[edit | edit source]

    UNITA’s strategic R&I goal is to transform current thematic hubs into fully-fledged, legally and financially autonomous entities. These institutes will be central to a research-centered education strategy, strengthening the Alliance’s visibility and competitiveness globally.

    The Five Building Blocks[edit | edit source]

    1. Governance: Robust financial, legal, and administrative frameworks.
    2. Identity: Promoting scientific reputation through flagship transnational projects.
    3. Efficiency: Sharing resources and infrastructures to enable economies of scale.
    4. Ecosystems: Integrating local public and private stakeholders for innovation transfer.
    5. Talent: Enhancing attractiveness for early-stage researchers through Graduate Schools and PhD co-tutelles.

    1. State of the Art[edit | edit source]

    Summary of Actions to Date[edit | edit source]

    The foundations were laid during UNITA Phase 1 and the **Re-UNITA** project (2021–2024). Concrete achievements include:

    • R&I Hubs: Establishment of six thematic hubs with dedicated co-leadership.
    • Research Cartography: A database mapping 1,486 projects and activities across the alliance.
    • Doctoral Network: Over 52 PhD co-tutelles launched; initiation of the CHORAL MSCA-COFUND project (42 PhD students for Cultural Heritage).
    • Open Science: Development of the **U*NIGHT** project and a common Zenodo open-access platform.

    Resource Analysis (Current State)[edit | edit source]

    Resource Category Status Details
    ~80 staff | 12 hub co-leaders, 72 committee members, and specialized IT support.
    €2.5M+ | Includes €1.2M for Starting Grants and €961k for Advanced Grants.
    €6.6M+ | Re-UNITA (€2M), U*night (€395k), and CHORAL (€4.2M).
    Shared Catalogue | Managed by UNIZAR; cartography managed by USMB.

    Difficulties Encountered[edit | edit source]

    • Human Resources: Structuring hubs requires more staff than initially planned in Erasmus+ budgets.
    • Engagement: Ongoing challenge to fully involve the broader researcher community in hub-specific identities.
    • Policy Harmonization: Varying local and national legal constraints hinder unified strategy deployment.

    2. Context & Analysis[edit | edit source]

    PESTEL Analysis[edit | edit source]

    Factor Key Aspects Impact on Strategy
    EU MFF (2028-2034) & Cohesion Policy | High potential to secure funding as "European demonstrators" of place-based innovation.
    Limited local private investment in rural areas | Risk of public fund dependency; need to leverage regional specializations (Agri-tech, Green Energy).
    Depopulation & Brain Drain | ER2Is serve as drivers for local empowerment and youth retention.
    Digital Transition (AI, Open Science) | Opportunity to lead in "Applied Rural Tech" and remote health/mobility solutions.
    EU Green Deal & Climate Adaptation | Mountain/Rural regions act as living laboratories for biodiversity and energy transition.
    GDPR, Open Science mandates, IPR | Need to harmonize IPR across partners to manage innovation outcomes.

    Internal Resource Analysis (Forward-Looking)[edit | edit source]

    • Gaps: Insufficient HR for hub management; IT tools require upgrades for scientific networking; limited direct funding for specific research projects.
    • Opportunities: Alignment with the **European Charter for Researchers** and **CoARA** progress; leverage "Regional Smart Specialization Strategies."

    3. Prioritization and Action Plan[edit | edit source]

    Prioritization Matrix[edit | edit source]

    Action Feasibility Strategic Impact Priority
    High | High | High
    Medium | High | High
    Medium | Medium | Medium
    Medium | High | Medium
    High | High | High

    Detailed Actions[edit | edit source]

    Action 1: Financial, Legal & Admin Framework[edit | edit source]

    • Goal: Integrate institutes within the EEIG (European Economic Interest Grouping).
    • Timeline:
      • 2028-2030: Conception of realistic integration framework.
      • 2030-2034: Full implementation of ER2I governance and management bodies.

    Action 2: Scientific Identity & Collaborations[edit | edit source]

    • Goal: Develop flagship projects that reach the most competitive European calls.
    • Indicators: Number of projects supported; external funding received.

    Action 3: Sharing Resources & Infrastructures[edit | edit source]

    • Goal: Transition to a sustainable model where the EEIG can host/buy common infrastructures.
    • Focus: Open infrastructures to local ecosystems for mutual benefit.

    Action 4: Transnational Ecosystem Networks[edit | edit source]

    • Goal: Incorporate local private/public stakeholders into the governance of the 6 institutes.
    • Business Model: Built on private-public collaborations tailored to local needs.

    Action 5: Early-Stage Researcher Attractiveness[edit | edit source]

    • Joint Degrees: Aiming for 15+ joint programs by 2034, with at least 6 at the Graduate level specifically tied to the ER2Is.
    • Strategy: Promoting "Mobility 4 All" at Undergraduate level while focusing on "Expertise and Differentiation" at Graduate level.
    • Talent Pipeline: Use Graduate Schools and co-tutelles to recruit global top-level PhD students.
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