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This is the COOPERATE newsletter with the latest information about the COOPERATE project, which during the next months (2022-2024) will define and pilot the ERA Hubs, one of the ERA policy actions defined by the Council of the European Union for the next years. Building on the vision and success stories developed within the EuroTech Universities Alliance and their R&I ecosystems, the COOPERATE partners will contribute to the future development of the ERA Hubs as a key European flagship to promote R&I ecosystems.
Follow the COOPERATE LinkedInpagina for the latest ERA-hub news.
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Line of Action 5: Collaboration
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COOPERATE aims to facilitate the harmonisation of research practices and sharing of best practices across member states, promoting a more seamless and efficient research environment within the ERA Hubs network. To aid ecosystem players such as educational institutions, local industry, policymakers, and other stakeholders, a framework for nurturing dynamic ecosystems has been developed in the so-called ‘Playbook’.
In each of the upcoming newsletter one of the seven lines of action will be further elaborated with concrete tools that can be employed by an ecosystem towards the implementation of the ERA Hub framework model. This edition: Collaboration.
Collaboration
Addressing complex challenges and driving meaningful innovation requires the collective expertise, resources, and perspectives of diverse stakeholders. A successful research and innovation ecosystem requires interconnectedness, interdisciplinary approaches, and the need for scalable solutions. No single entity, whether it be an institution, organisation, or country, possesses all the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to tackle the multifaceted problems faced by society today. Collaboration, therefore, becomes imperative to leverage complementary strengths, enhance efficiency, and amplify impact.
Strategic partnerships are a key aspect of establishing this collaboration. These partnerships are forged between different stakeholders, such as universities, research institutions, businesses, and public authorities, with the goal of jointly addressing specific research and innovation challenges. Through these partnerships, expertise from various fields is combined, enabling the development of comprehensive and interdisciplinary approaches that can tackle complex problems from multiple angles.
Recommendations for development
To develop a vibrant research and innovation ecosystem, it is essential to establish various activities and mechanisms that promote collaboration, such as networking, communication, infrastructure support, and internationalisation.
- Promote networking and relationship-building
- Facilitate communication and information sharing
- Provide infrastructure and technological support
- Foster internationalisation and cross-border collaboration
- Build trust and enhance collaboration initiatives
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Advancing Innovation and Collaboration
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On 12 December, Marcel Bogers and Iza Heltzel had the honor of presenting the COOPERATE project to a delegation from Portugal and Spain representing the DRIVEN Project: Open Innovation Driven Economy at the Eindhoven University of Technology campus. This insightful meeting provided an opportunity to highlight the work being done within COOPERATE and its alignment with the goals of DRIVEN.
The DRIVEN Project seeks to foster a Cross-Border Innovation Ecosystem, designed to address strategic business and industrial challenges. By aligning resources, research, and technological development capacity with the real needs of industrial SMEs, the initiative supports industrial transformation and stimulates technology-based entrepreneurship, contributing to the smart specialization strategies of the three participating regions.
We are proud to demonstrate how COOPERATE contributes to these shared objectives through the development of ERA Hubs, focusing on collaboration-driven solutions within regional ecosystems that connect place-based innovation directly to industrial and societal needs.
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In the COOPERATE podcast, the latest developments in research, technology, and innovation across Europe are being discussed in the context of ERA-hubs. In the first episode, Marcel Bogers (Eindhoven University of Technology) and Wim De Kinderen (Brainport Development) talk about the policy side of innovation ecosystems and what role different actors play in shaping policy. In the second episode, Marcel and Kevin van Lierop (Brainport Development) talk about Brainport Eindhoven as a successful example of an innovation ecosystem in Europe. Both episodes are available on the COOPERATE YouTube channel. Visit and follow https://www.youtube.com/@cooperate-g3m for more videos.
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Reflecting on an inspiring COOPERATE Workshop at WOIC 2024
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On 7 November, COOPERATE had the privilege of hosting their own Workshop on "Open Innovation Ecosystems and Policy" as part of WOIC 2024 in sunny Berkeley, California!
It was an incredible opportunity to bring together innovation researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to explore the transformative power of Open Innovation Ecosystems. In a very interactive session, we addressed key actions on how to support less advanced ecosystems to become ERA Hubs.
Key Takeaways:
- Promoting High-Quality Research: Advance education excellence requires robust partnerships, open data infrastructure, and government-funded thematic clusters.
- Attracting & Retaining Talent: Foster a competitive environment to support emerging industries, establish mentorship programs, and facilitate talent exchanges between industry and academia.
- Facilitating Knowledge Transfer: Encourage interdisciplinary collaborations between academia, industry, and government through shared projects, dedicated physical spaces, and mobility for industrial PhD students.
- Ensuring Sustainable Funding: Establish funding streams for cross-regional collaboration, supported by a digital platform as a central information hub and an integrated start-up ecosystem.
- Supporting Long-Term Collaboration: Empower sustainable partnerships through initiatives like start-up competitions, industry clusters, and a global connection network.
- Developing Effective Governance: Develop transparent governance, clear regulations, and policy support for scaling up are essential to building resilient ecosystems.
Driving Breakthrough Innovations: Create synergies between academic research and industry applications, with cross-sector entrepreneurship programs to fuel groundbreaking innovations.
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| Upcoming events and activities |
In the next coming months a series of events, gatherings and other happenings will take place that are related to the COOPERATE project and the ERA-hub concept. Below they are summarized:
- 5th COOPERATE General Assembly – 21-23 January 2025 Genoa, Italy. In January the next General Assembly will be organized.
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| COOPERATE is funded by the European Commission H2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement 101095017 and call identifier HORIZON-WIDERA-2022-ERA-01-30. |
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