The European research landscape is evolving, but the benefits of cross-border innovation are not always felt equally. Recognizing this, the EU-funded Unite.WIDENING project is taking bold steps to ensure that researchers in Poland and Portugal are not only participants but leaders in high-impact European projects.
Recently highlighted by CORDIS (the European Commission’s primary source for research results), our project is gaining momentum through targeted training, industry collaboration, and the launch of innovative digital tools.
Empowering the Next Generation: Building Research Communities
The cornerstone of our recent activities was the first Unite.WIDENING Training Action, held in the scenic setting of Autrans, France, from November 3–7, 2025. Titled “Building Research Communities,” the event brought together 12 researchers from Wrocław University of Science and Technology and the University of Lisbon.
Moving away from traditional, passive lectures, the program focused on:
- Active Matchmaking: Connecting researchers across the nine universities of the Unite! Alliance.
- Strategic Focus: Prioritizing four key areas: Health & Biotech, Urban Sustainability, Circular Economy, and Digital Technologies.
- Practical Tools: Sharing success stories from the Unite! Seed Fund and introducing the IRIS network to help researchers find partners and resources effectively.
This event marked the beginning of an ambitious roadmap: a series of 21 training actions scheduled through 2026 and 2027, all designed to strengthen the research capacity of our widening institutions.
Connecting Science and Business: The AGORA Platform
Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. To bridge the gap between academia and the marketplace, Unite.WIDENING recently hosted the “Digital Campus Hub for Companies and SMEs” presentations in Lisbon and Wrocław.
The star of these sessions was AGORA, a digital platform inspired by the ancient Greek marketplace. Developed in collaboration with the aUPaEU project, AGORA serves as a shared digital space where:
- Universities can showcase their research offers and laboratory capabilities.
- SMEs and Industry Partners can access acceleration services and find academic talent.
- Researchers can engage in virtual mobility and use integrated collaboration tools.
By extending AGORA’s reach to industry, Unite.WIDENING is creating a trusted ecosystem for co-creation and knowledge transfer that will drive digital transformation across the European Research Area (ERA).
What’s Next?
Our mission to raise excellence in R&S&I (Research, Science, and Innovation) is just getting started. As we move into 2026, the project will continue to implement structural reforms, from Gender Equality Plans to Open Science Roadmaps, ensuring that our universities are attractive, inclusive, and globally competitive.
“This proximity helped initiate concrete collaborations, identify shared research interests, and outline concrete next steps to foster early-stage research communities.” — CORDIS Report, 2026
Join the Movement
Are you a researcher or faculty member? We invite you to be part of this transformation.
- Submit your ideas for the upcoming training series
- Explore the AGORA platform to find your next industry partner.
- Stay tuned for our upcoming hackathons and staff weeks.
Together, we are making research excellence a reality for all of Europe.
