Unite! & Unite! Widening: Strengthening European Cooperation in Education, Research, and Innovation

On 23-24 October 2025, the Wrocław University of Science and Technology hosted the annual meeting of IT Directors from the Unite! European University Alliance. This gathering reinforced collaboration across European higher education institutions and highlighted the strategic role of international project development and European funding as drivers of innovation and competitiveness. Técnico Lisboa was represented by Prof. Pedro Monteiro – Coordinator of the Department of Computer Engineering (DEI), Prof. Henrique Matos – Presidente of the Departamento de Engenharia Química (DEQ) and by Cristina Silva from the International Affairs Division (DAI/NCFI), ensuring the connection between academic priorities and strategic project management.

 

During the meeting, several cooperation mechanisms available within Unite! were presented, including the Unite! Seed Fund, which since 2023 has supported 87 collaborative projects spanning research, doctoral education, teaching innovation, and student-led initiatives. This instrument supports the creation of inter-institutional teams and finances exploratory activities (up to EUR10,000) and structured initiatives (up to EUR80,000), requiring participation from at least three partner universities.

 

Additional collaboration pathways include:

  • Co-development of Joint Programmes
  • Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs)
  • Dual and joint degree opportunities supported by the Joint Programme Expert Group
  • Transnational Doctoral School, opening new opportunities for Técnico’s researchers and PhD candidates

 

The meeting also highlighted the synergies with Unite! Widening, which aims to reinforce research and innovation excellence across Southern and Eastern Europe, with particular relevance to Portugal and Poland. Among its four priority areas – Health & Biotech, Urban & Resources Sustainability, Circular Economy & Materials, and Digital & Autonomous Technologies – two directly intersect with the discussions held at the IT Directors’ meeting, aligning educational and scientific strategies.

 

Together, we continue building bridges between knowledge, innovation, and international cooperation.

 

#UniteEU #UniteWidening #tecnicolisboa #InternationalCooperation #HigherEducation #ResearchInnovation #EuropeanUniversities #HorizonEurope #ErasmusPlus #AcademicCollaboration #GlobalEngagement

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