From November 27 to 29, representatives from the ISSP UL’s Development and Legal Departments participated in two key events in Brussels organized by the European Commission: the Kick-off Coordinator’s Day for TEAMING Projects on November 27 and the Excellence Hubs & Teaming Networking Event on November 28 and 29. These events gathered stakeholders from across the EU to discuss strategies for enhancing research collaboration, building resilient ecosystems, and advancing policy measures within the framework of EU-funded TEAMING and Excellence Hubs projects. They provided an excellent platform for engaging with representatives from the European Commission, other TEAMING project coordinators, and researchers from Excellence Hubs, fostering discussions around shared challenges and collaborative solutions.
During these events, the ISSP UL representatives actively participated in networking activities with representatives from EU-funded teaming centers, connecting with key stakeholders to explore synergies and exchange best practices. They also took part in parallel sessions addressing crucial topics, including the upscaling and integration of TEAMING projects, strategies for innovation and commercialization, and community building within Excellence Hubs. A significant part of the discussions focused on fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government to achieve impactful and sustainable outcomes. These sessions underscored the importance of aligning local and national policies with EU objectives to overcome systemic barriers and enhance research and innovation capacities across all regions.
The events highlighted several core topics, such as the need for balanced and equitable research progress across the EU, creating resilient ecosystems through expanded participation, and the role of TEAMING and Excellence Hubs in reforming national systems. Strong progress in existing widening measures was noted, along with a renewed call for systemic reforms to support research and innovation at the national level. Communication with our Project Officer during the event was particularly important, as it facilitated early preparation for the upcoming Widening calls in 2026, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and timelines.
Key takeaways from the trip include the critical role of stakeholder collaboration in driving innovation and commercialization, the necessity of securing sustainability through diversified funding streams and government support, and the importance of AI advancements in enhancing research visibility and impact. Additionally, establishing and sustaining communities, such as the Excellence Hubs network, emerged as a vital strategy for fostering mutual learning and collaboration. These discussions, along with direct engagement with our Project Officer, emphasized the significance of timely planning and coordination for maximizing the impact of EU-funded projects in the upcoming planning period.