​Three EU funded projects sign a collaboration agreement to accelerate research and innovation

​Through this, CATALISI, aUPaEU and Accelerate Future HEI will solidify joint efforts in dissemination and policy recommendations for Higher Education Institutions.

Three sister projects, funded under the same EU funding program, HORIZON-WIDERA-2022-ERA-01-51 - Acceleration Services in support of the institutional transformation of Higher Education Institutionshave been working closely for over two years to amplify their impact in Higher Education across the European Union. The Collaboration Agreement, which was signed by the partnership in September 2025, gives formal recognition to these efforts.

Importantly, the agreement covers two major areas: (1) joint efforts in dissemination activities and (2) providing policymakers with insights and recommendations about the European research landscape. This shared commitment in dissemination will ensure the amplification of the respective projects' outcomes, beyond the individual project’s reach. A unified voice strengthens the evidence base, offering policymakers richer, more holistic insights into the European research and education landscape. At the same time, it will support the projects’ sustainability, by exploiting the synergies among the three parties on the acceleration services developed, and their inclusion in the Agora platforms created by the aUPaEU project.

Shared events like the 2025 INORMS Congress, Interreg Europe workshop and CATALSISI Conference, which is taking place in Amsterdam on 11 November 2025, will generate more impact from the three projects.

Quote from project coordinators:

“This agreement turns our positive cooperation into a formal partnership, making sure our work has a stronger and longer-lasting impact on Higher Education Institutions. By joining forces in sharing results and giving recommendations to policymakers, we can speak with one clear voice. Together, we’ll reach more people, ensure our projects live on, and speed up innovation and change in universities across Europe.”

The Collaboration Agreement was signed by Chiara Pocaterra (Head of Projects Department at APRE – CATALISI Coordinating partner), Jesus Angel Alcober Segura (Delegate of the rector for the Unite! Digital Campus and Associate Professor at UPC – aUPaEU Coordinating partner and Arno Meerman (CEO & Founder of UIIN – Accelerate Future HEI Coordinating partner).

About aUPaEU

aUPaEU (A University Partnership for Acceleration of European Universities) aims at accelerating the institutional transformation of Higher Education Institutions by developing the digital platform Agora. https://aupaeu.widening.eu/

About CATALISI

CATALISI facilitates the transformation of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to embrace more sustainable research and innovation, ensuring alignment with societal challenges and European values. Through the adoption of targeted acceleration services in the field of Research and Innovation CATALISI will strengthen European Universities. https://catalisi.eu/

About Accelerate Future HEI

Accelerate Future HEI unites nine testing higher education institutions and three testing partners in developing and testing acceleration services, to equip HEIs with the skills and capacity to drive institutional transformation towards becoming more entrepreneurial and innovative institutions. https://acceleratefuturehei.eu/