EUNICE Research seeks to set the foundations and tools to boost joint research between partner universities by promoting science dissemination and sharing research resource platform
Reunice (EUNICE Research), project within EUNICE alliance, is aimed at promoting joint research between the different universities which are part of the consortium. Funded by the European Commission’s H2020 Programme is active since October 2021 and will run until September 2024.
One of the main goals of this project is to support EUNICE on making a local impact and contributing to the development of our society by transferring knowledge, expertise and workforce to companies based in the regions where our universities are located.
Thus, some of the specific milestones pursued are a common research and innovation agenda, the sharing of research infrastructures of the partner universities, the promotion of collaboration with different agents in society (companies, NGOs,…), the openness and inclusiveness of science as a general practice within the consortium, and strengthening of human resources for research through the implementation of good practices (European Commission’s Human Resources Strategy for Researchers – HRS4R).
“It is important to note that Reunice is not designed to directly fund joint research, but rather to create the necessary structures and networks so that the generation of joint research is sustainable over time and not something specific associated with the duration of the project,” said Lidia Sánchez, Reunice Area Director at the University of Cantabria (Spain).
Midterm results
Several initiatives have already been carried out within the framework of Reunice project, as the report on good practices in university-business collaboration, which pointed out 69 initiatives were identified in the EUNICE network.
In the testing phase there is another action taking place: the building of a platform for expertise exchange based on Artificial Intelligence that will bring business world and researchers closer together by offering marketplace functionalities for the exchange of ideas, needs and scientific-technical solutions. It will be launched shortly.
HRS4R
EUNICE is on the path towards a common basis in terms of human resources for research. To this end, partner universities have developed a joint action plan, to be implemented over the next two years to adopt the EUNICE Human Resources Strategy for Researchers – HRS4R.
This HRS4R initiative it´s conceived to armonise between the universities in EUNICE alliance the working conditions of research staff. It is a multi-stage process that culminates in the European Commission´s HR Excellence in Research Award and, five years after, in the Award Renewal, which can be granted again every 36 months. In the case of the EUNICE alliance, three of the seven partner universities already have the HR Excellence in Research Award: University of Cantabria (Spain), University of Mons (Belgium) and University of Vaasa (Finland).
Doctoral Schools network
EUNICE is working on joint actions to promote collaboration between local Doctoral Schools such as, for example, a shared transversal training plan, the organisation of Summer Schools, the promotion of co-tutelage and, in the long-term, joint doctoral programmes.
Inclusiveness and other EUNICE values
A joint Style Manual on Diversity, Inclusivity and Gender has been elaborated with recommendations for good practices to be carried out during the development of the Reunice project and online training actions will be outlined.
Reunice project also participates in scientific dissemination events to raise awareness of the progress made by the partners and the project and also to encourage scientific vocations around other values on which the project is based: collaboration with industry and open science.
More info at https://eunice-university.eu/research/
