RUN-EU - European University UPCA - Coordination Partner

The Regional University Network–European University (RUN-EU) is an alliance of ten regional universities established in 2020 under the European Commission's European Universities Initiative. Located outside major capital cities, RUN-EU member institutions are deeply embedded in their regional ecosystems and serve as key drivers of regional competitiveness, social cohesion, and sustainable development.

RUN- European Research Area (ERA) brings together over 2,000 researchers across the ten partner institutions into a unified research and innovation market focused on green and digital transitions and socio-economic transformation. RUN-ERA operates across three interconnected pillars:

I. Researcher Upskilling & Open Science, which includes industry-embedded placement missions for MSc/PhD students and early-stage researchers within research ecosystems and enterprise partners.

II. Collaborative Research Networks, with multidisciplinary Research Clusters focusing research talent across priority thematic areas: Food & Biotechnology, Tourism, IoT & Cybersecurity, Smart Sustainable Manufacturing, Climate Change, Education & Social Sciences, Health & Well-being, Creative Art & Design, and Materials Thinking.

III. Knowledge Transfer & Industry Linkages, connecting academic research directly with regional businesses, investors, and technology transfer offices, focusing on Smart Sustainable Manufacturing, Bioeconomy, and Social Innovation; and organised Regional industry showcases at partner campuses where institutions open their intellectual property, patent portfolios, and technological capabilities to local enterprise.