In an increasingly interconnected world, collaborative research between universities has emerged as a powerful catalyst for scientific breakthroughs and knowledge advancement. International research collaborations, particularly within the European Union (EU), have become instrumental in enhancing the research potential of participating universities. In this blog, we will explore the benefits and key actions of inter-university research collaborations, with a focus on EU Programmes and Initiatives.
International Research Collaborations: Enhancing Research Potential through Common Research
International research collaborations bring together universities from different countries, leveraging their diverse expertise and resources to tackle complex global challenges. By pooling knowledge, researchers can access a broader range of perspectives, methodologies, and data, leading to more robust and impactful research outcomes.
Collaborative research efforts among EU universities provide a platform for sharing resources, infrastructure, and expertise. By jointly addressing research questions and combining their strengths, universities can enhance their research potential and achieve scientific advancements that would be difficult to attain individually.
Horizon Europe and Erasmus+: fostering Collaboration among HEIs and promoting international cooperation across Europe and beyond
Among the many EU co-funded programs that facilitate Higher Education Institution collaboration, research, and knowledge exchange across Europe and beyond, Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ are two of the most important EU programs.
- Horizon Europe, the successor to Horizon 2020, is the EU’s largest research and innovation program for the period 2021-2027, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and funding projects across various scientific fields. Like its predecessor, Horizon Europe facilitates inter-university research partnerships through its collaborative framework, supports research and innovation projects in various fields to address global challenges, drive technological advancements, and boost scientific excellence. It provides funding opportunities for HEIs to collaborate with other research organizations, industries, and stakeholders on cutting-edge research and innovation projects. Horizon Europe focuses on three main pillars.
- Excellent Science: Enhancing fundamental research, supporting researchers’ mobility, and funding prestigious research grants like the European Research Council (ERC) grants.
- Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness: Funding projects in areas like health, climate, energy, digitalization, and security, which require interdisciplinary and international collaboration.
- Innovative Europe: Supporting activities that stimulate innovation, technology transfer, and research commercialization.
- Erasmus+ is a flagship EU program that supports education, training, youth, and sport. It has been a significant driver of academic and student mobility, enabling individuals to study, train, and gain experience abroad. Erasmus+ fosters cooperation among Higher Education Institutions through various actions.
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees: Consortia of universities from different countries jointly offer integrated master’s programs.
- Strategic Partnerships: HEIs collaborate with other organizations, businesses, or NGOs to develop innovative projects, share best practices, and enhance educational offerings.
- Capacity Building in Higher Education: specifically targets non-EU countries, promoting international cooperation in education and research. Projects are aiming to improve the quality and relevance of higher education in partner countries outside the EU.Alliances for Innovation: aim to boost Europe’s innovation capacity through stronger cooperation and knowledge flow among higher education, vocational education and training, businesses and the broader socio-economic environment, including research.
- Jean Monnet Actions: Promoting excellence in teaching and research in the field of European Union studies.
Other EU co-funded programs with similar goals of promoting collaboration among Higher Education Institutions include the following.
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA): support the training and career development of researchers at all career stages. The program fosters international and interdisciplinary research mobility, allowing researchers to work in different countries and sectors.
- Creative Europe: Creative Europe supports the cultural and creative sectors, including education and training initiatives in arts, culture, and media. It encourages cross-border cooperation and the exchange of best practices among cultural organizations, including universities and artistic institutions.
- Interreg Programs: Interreg is a series of territorial cooperation programs that aim to promote economic, social, and territorial cohesion within the EU. Interreg projects often involve collaborations between universities, research centers, and other regional stakeholders to address common challenges and share knowledge across borders, within the EU, but also with bordering non-EU countries.
Starting Collaborative Research: The Networking Step
Embarking in collaborative research is a significant endeavor that can lead to groundbreaking discoveries and innovative solutions. However, the success of such projects heavily relies on forming strong partnerships and meaningful consortia. The networking step in this process is of utmost importance, as it enables institutions to identify and connect with potential partners whose expertise complements their own.
The first step institutions should take is to identify their unique strengths and areas of expertise. This self-assessment lays the foundation for understanding what each university can contribute to a joint project. Armed with this knowledge, universities can then proactively seek out partners whose research interests align and supplement their own capabilities.
As a next step, networking will serve as the vital link that brings these potential partners together. Universities need to establish and foster connections with like-minded institutions across the globe. This process opens up opportunities for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and the exploration of potential collaborations.
Universities can utilize existing platforms, conferences and workshops, project databases and existing platforms designed to facilitate research collaborations to interact and initiate conversations that may lead to future partnerships. Additionally, seeking guidance from external experts can prove invaluable in identifying potential partners and creating fruitful collaborations. Experts can offer insights into relevant research networks, ongoing initiatives, and potential collaborators, helping institutions navigate the complex landscape of collaborative research.
Joint Proposal Development
After establishing partnerships, the next step is to develop a joint research proposal. It is a crucial step in collaborative research projects as it lays the foundation for securing funding and implementing the envisioned research. While partnerships may have been successfully established, crafting a cohesive and compelling proposal can be challenging due to the complex nature of collaborative projects involving multiple institutions. However, with specialized help and guidance from experienced researchers who have secured funded collaborative projects in the past, these difficulties can be effectively overcome.
The importance of joint proposal development cannot be overstated. It is during this stage that the collective strengths, expertise, and resources of the partnering institutions are brought together to address a specific research problem or achieve common objectives. The proposal must articulate a clear research plan, define the role and responsibilities of each partner, outline the expected outcomes, and demonstrate the potential impact of the collaborative initiative. A well-developed joint proposal not only increases the chances of securing funding but also serves as a blueprint for successful project implementation.
In overcoming these challenges, the expertise and guidance of experienced researchers who have successfully navigated the process of securing funded collaborative projects become invaluable. These seasoned researchers bring a wealth of knowledge in developing winning proposals, understanding the intricacies of collaborative research, and presenting a convincing case for the project’s importance and potential impact. Their insights help ensure that the proposal is of high quality, addressing all necessary components and aligning with the funding agency’s requirements.
International Cooperation Outside the EU
Specific Key Action 3 within the EU’s Erasmus+ program specifically focuses on promoting international cooperation beyond the EU. It encourages collaboration with non-EU countries, fostering partnerships that drive research, innovation, and knowledge exchange on a global scale. This action opens up new avenues for universities to establish meaningful research collaborations with institutions outside the EU, enriching the diversity and impact of their research.
The ERASMUS+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) program, one of the actions under the broader ERASMUS+ program of the European Union, specifically focuses on promoting international cooperation beyond the EU. The CBHE program aims to support the modernization, accessibility, and internationalization of higher education in partner countries outside the EU. It fosters cooperation between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in EU member states and those in partner countries to address common challenges and improve the quality of higher education systems.
The CBHE program consists of three main strands:
Joint Projects: This strand supports cooperation projects between EU HEIs and HEIs in partner countries. The projects aim to enhance the quality of higher education, promote innovation, and address specific challenges identified by the partner countries. These projects can focus on curriculum development, modernizing teaching methods, promoting entrepreneurship and employability, and improving the management and governance of HEIs. Joint Projects are open to partner countries from different regions around the world, such as the EU Neighbouring countries, Asia, Africa, Latin America, Central Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Structural Projects: This strand supports projects that aim to enhance the capacity of higher education systems in partner countries. The projects focus on implementing reforms, developing new policies, and improving the management and governance of higher education institutions. Structural Projects are typically region-specific and involve multiple institutions from partner countries in a particular region.
Technical Support: This strand provides support to institutions and organizations involved in the implementation of the CBHE projects. It aims to strengthen the management, monitoring, and evaluation capacities of these organizations to ensure the successful execution of the funded projects.
Concluding Remarks
Collaborative inter-university research, particularly through international partnerships, holds immense potential for advancing knowledge, addressing global challenges, and fostering innovation. EU initiatives like Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and other EU co-funded programmes provide avenues for universities to engage in collaborative research, strengthening their research potential and impact. By leveraging networking opportunities, developing joint proposals, and actively participating in international cooperation efforts, universities can pave the way for groundbreaking research that transcends boundaries and creates a positive impact on a global scale.