Promoting young talent, creating platforms that connect researchers and facilitate collaboration, as well as developing tools that support integration, and organizing internships and workshops for doctoral students are among the latest achievements of the REUNICE project under the H2020 program.
The aim of the EUNICE Research (REUNICE) project was to integrate research and innovation resources to foster effective collaboration between science and society within the framework of the EUNICE European University. After three years of efforts, the project, co-funded by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 program, has laid the foundation for the development of joint research activities and industrial partnerships. On October 24, 2024, a meeting was held at Poznan University of Technology, bringing together teams from ten EUNICE partner universities to review the project's outcomes and identify potential directions for its further development.
The meeting was inaugurated by the Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, prof. Mariusz Głąbowski, and the REUNICE Project Manager, prof. Paweł Śniatała. Subsequently, participants had the opportunity to attend two guest lectures. Marek Zmuda, PhD System Security Architect at Intel Corporation, delivered a lecture titled ”Cooperation with Academic Communities”, highlighting the mutual benefits for companies and universities in establishing scientific and industrial collaborations. Professor Anna Kobusińska presented a lecture titled “Demystifying the Power of Blockchain: From Core Concepts to Applications”, discussing the potential applications of blockchain technology in academia, including its use for tuition payments (cryptocurrency) and the verification of academic achievements (smart contracts).
Michał Weissenberg, the REUNICE project officer, showcased the project's latest accomplishments, such as a professional coaching program for young researchers applying for an MSCA grant, the creation of the Inclusive Communication Charter, and the development of an Open Science platform based on artificial intelligence and blockchain technology to facilitate scientific collaboration (currently in the testing phase). The event served as an opportunity to discuss subsequent steps to ensure the sustainability of REUNICE initiatives, which will be adopted by the EUNICE European University under the EUNICE4U Erasmus+ project.
Over the three years of its operation, REUNICE focused on formulating human resources management strategies for researchers, organizing research internships, training sessions, and workshops for doctoral students, as well as science popularization events, such as the travelling exhibition of scientific photography “The Invisible Unveiled”. The project also developed three key platforms:
A knowledge exchange platform powered by Catalyst** – a bridge connecting university entities with social and industrial institutions.
An intelligent blockchain-based collaboration platform for open science – utilizing artificial intelligence to connect individuals working in similar research areas.
The European University EUNICE AI Competence Center – a platform bringing together AI specialists and EUNICE partners’ resources to facilitate the exchange of ideas and foster collaboration with industrial and social partners.
The conclusion of the REUNICE project and the accompanying event emphasized the importance of scientific collaboration within the European Universities initiative. All those involved in the project expressed hope that the developed solutions would be successfully implemented and find practical application within the EUNICE European University framework.
European University Office