With the aim of strengthening regional innovation ecosystems and fostering the development of new generations of entrepreneurs, the universities of the Transform4Europe alliance have joined forces in the new project T-RISE (Transforming Regional Innovation Ecosystems for Sustainable and Digitally Enabled Entrepreneurship), funded under the EIT Higher Education Initiative. Over the next two years, the partners will work together to develop stronger innovation ecosystems, promote entrepreneurial culture, and reinforce collaboration between universities, businesses, and regional stakeholders across Europe. In doing so, the project places university entrepreneurship at the heart of efforts to build a more innovative, competitive, and sustainable Europe.
T-RISE is among the 35 projects selected for funding under the highly competitive EIT Higher Education Initiative call. A total of 138 proposals were submitted from across Europe, further highlighting the quality and international significance of the selected projects. The EIT HEI Initiative is the only European programme dedicated exclusively to strengthening the innovation and entrepreneurial capacity of higher education institutions. It enables universities to develop entrepreneurial cultures, accelerate knowledge transfer into practice, and reinforce their role as key actors within Europe’s innovation ecosystem.
Breakthrough innovations emerge where knowledge, research, and entrepreneurship intersect. With this objective in mind, T-RISE promotes closer collaboration among universities, research organisations, businesses, and regional stakeholders, creating a supportive environment for sustainable and digitally enabled entrepreneurship. The project is coordinated by the University of Alicante (Spain) and brings together the following project partners: Jean Monnet University Saint-Étienne (France), the University of Primorska (Slovenia), Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), the Católica Portuguesa University (Portugal), the University of Silesia (Poland), META Group (Italy), and Alicante Science Park (Spain). Associated partners include Saarland University (Germany), the University of Trieste (Italy), Mariupol State University (Ukraine), the Estonian Academy of Arts (Estonia), Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” (Bulgaria), and Vizzuality (Spain).
At the University of Primorska, the Centre for Development and Knowledge Transfer and the Faculty of Management will lead Work Package 7, responsible for communication and dissemination activities. Their role will include coordinating the effective dissemination of project results, engaging relevant stakeholders, and strengthening the long-term visibility and sustainability of the T-RISE project.
Through T-RISE, the partners will support the development of stronger regional innovation ecosystems, with a particular focus on sustainable and digitally enabled entrepreneurship as well as enhanced collaboration among higher education institutions, businesses, research organisations, and regional stakeholders.
One of the project’s key outcomes will be the establishment of a Joint Innovation Office within the Transform4Europe alliance, providing coordinated support to partners in the fields of innovation, entrepreneurship, and knowledge transfer. At the same time, the project will develop a portfolio of innovative micro-credentials for students, researchers, and staff, while also establishing incubation, acceleration, and mentoring programmes to support the creation and growth of start-ups and spin-off companies.
Sustainability, the green transition, and digital transformation are at the core of the project. T-RISE will equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to successfully transform research outcomes into innovations with economic potential. The project will also strengthen long-term cooperation with the ecosystem of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), particularly through the networks EIT Climate-KIC, EIT RawMaterials, and 28DIGITAL, opening new opportunities for students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators to engage in European innovation and entrepreneurship programmes.
By connecting the expertise, experience, and regional networks of universities, innovation organisations, and industry partners, T-RISE will make an important contribution to the development of more connected, resilient, and innovation-driven regional ecosystems across Europe. At the same time, it brings to life the shared vision of the Transform4Europe alliance: to educate entrepreneurial creators of knowledge, foster innovation with societal impact, and strengthen the role of European universities as key drivers of sustainable development, competitiveness, and regional growth.