Strengthening university-business cooperation to improve the impact of the raw materials ecosystem in the ESEE and Baltic regions

EIT RawMaterials has launched its University Business Cooperation capacity building programme with an online workshop for universities from the Eastern and South-Eastern European (ESEE) and Baltic regions which are connected to the raw materials sector. The aim is to support these institutions to assess the current state of their university-business cooperation practice, to create action plans to improve their impact on the local raw materials ecosystem and become Entrepreneurial Universities.

The expected outcome of the programme is the capacity building of the selected universities to better embed themselves in their local raw materials ecosystem and to transfer technology and knowledge coming out of their teaching and/or research activities, for the benefit of the European raw materials industry and European citizens.

The capacity-building programme uses HEInnovate toolbox. HEInnovate is a self-assessment tool for Higher Education Institutions that wish to explore their innovation potential. It guides them through a process of identification, prioritisation and action planning in eight key areas. The toolbox also helps diagnose areas of strength and weakness, opens up discussion and debate on the entrepreneurial/innovative nature of any particular HEI (Higher Education Institution) and allows users to compare and contrast evolution over time.

At our first workshop on 7-8 May 2020, 6 universities were represented, and we committed to continue the work with them to strengthen the European raw materials sector and to increase local innovation capacity in EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) regions.

As one of the participants said: ‘Impressed with the online organisation. Fascinating team and colleagues participating in the workshop. I am glad to meet colleagues from the region and to work with them on the same topic.’

We are looking forward to continuing the programme.