Católica represents T4EU at an International Symposium on European University Cooperation
Represented by João Cortez and Francisco Mendes-Palma, Universidade Católica, within the framework of the Transform4Europe alliance, took part in an international event dedicated to the future of the European University Alliances, reinforcing its commitment to research, innovation and European cooperation.
About
The Universidade Católica Portuguesa represented the Transform4Europe (T4EU) alliance at the European Universities Initiative (EUI): 2nd Research and Practice Symposium, held on 2 and 3 July at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU).
Francisco Mendes-Palma, T4EU Global Engagement Director and Institutional Coordinator of the T4EU@Católica Office, and João Cortez, Director of Católica’s Research and Innovation Office, represented Transform4Europe at the event, participating in the Poster Session with the presentation entitled “Expanding university cooperation and its impact on stakeholders (and strengthening funding options)”.
The aim of this session was to demonstrate and discuss how inter-university collaboration, through EU-funded innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) projects, can evolve into sustainable infrastructures at the alliance level. Drawing on the experience of the T4EU alliance, the contributions of projects such as ELEVATE, B-KINETIC, BIKE and LETSGROW to the development of shared I&E infrastructures were analysed.
The study explored capacity-building mechanisms, focusing on shared training and mentoring, intersectoral mobility and emerging service models. The findings suggest that strategically aligned projects contribute to the consolidation of shared capacities and to achieving measurable outcomes, particularly in talent development and the impact generated on startups.
The European Universities Initiative Symposium brought together researchers and practitioners with the aim of sharing the latest perspectives on the EUI, analysing evidence and challenges arising from different research initiatives, and discussing key lessons for the implementation of future policies and strategies. In addition to the participation of Transform4Europe and several other European Universities Alliances, the event also welcomed representatives from leading European and international institutions, including the OECD and the European Commission.
Through panels, workshops and poster sessions, the Symposium showcased a wide range of topics closely related to the sustainability of the EUI and to strengthening the role of research in the development of the European University Alliances.
Through the participation of representatives from Universidade Católica Portuguesa and their research proposal, Transform4Europe further reinforced its commitment to building a community grounded in research and innovation, contributing to a more sustainable and impactful Alliance.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to meet with Magdalena Sikorska, Secretary-General of EUNICE, the alliance with which T4EU will share a booth at EAIE 2026 – The Rhythm of Revolution, which will take place in Glasgow next September.
