KIT-Partnered EU Project Joins Two Others in Collaboration to Accelerate Research and Innovation

KIT is one of 6 partners of the Horizon Europe-funded project “A University Partnership for Acceleration of European Universities” (aUPaEU). At KIT, the project is implemented by KIT Library, specifically the Research Services department. As the Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT is dedicated to research and innovation, as well as its acceleration in collaborative environments. Now it is time to elevate the partnership for this cause to another level.

Together with its two sister projects, Accelerate Future HEI and CATALISI, funded under the same EU funding program [1],  aUPaEU has been working closely for over two years to amplify their impact in Higher Education across the European Union. The Collaboration Agreement between the three sister projects, which was signed by the partnership in September 2025, gives formal recognition to these efforts.

KIT Library actively contributes to the joint efforts under the agreement, namely (1) dissemination activities and (2) providing insights and recommendations about the status quo of the European research landscape to policymakers. This shared commitment in dissemination will ensure the amplification of the respective projects’ outcomes, beyond the individual project’s reach. A unified voice strengthens the evidence base, offering policymakers richer, more holistic insights into the European research and education landscape. At the same time, it will support the projects’ sustainability, by exploiting the synergies among the three parties on the developed outputs, and their inclusion in the Agora platforms created by the aUPaEU project.

Shared events like the 2025 INORMS Congress, Interreg Europe workshop and the CATALISI Conference, which is taking place in Amsterdam on 11 November 2025, will generate more impact from the three projects.

Quote from project coordinators

“This agreement turns our positive cooperation into a formal partnership, making sure our work has a stronger and longer-lasting impact on Higher Education Institutions. By joining forces in sharing results and giving recommendations to policymakers, we can speak with one clear voice. Together, we’ll reach more people, ensure our projects live on, and speed up innovation and change in universities across Europe.”

The Collaboration Agreement was signed by Chiara Pocaterra (Head of Projects Department at APRE – CATALISI Coordinating partner), Jesus Angel Alcober Segura (Delegate of the rector for the Unite! Digital Campus and Associate Professor at UPC – aUPaEU Coordinating partner and Arno Meerman (CEO & Founder of UIIN – Accelerate Future HEI Coordinating partner).

[1] HORIZON-WIDERA-2022-ERA-01-51 – Acceleration Services in support of the institutional transformation of Higher Education Institutions,

About CATALISI

CATALISI facilitates the transformation of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to embrace more sustainable research and innovation, ensuring alignment with societal challenges and European values. Through the adoption of targeted acceleration services in the field of Research and Innovation CATALISI will strengthen European Universities.

About aUPaEU

aUPaEU (A University Partnership for Acceleration of European Universities) aims at accelerating the institutional transformation of Higher Education Institutions by developing the digital platform Agora for HEI alliances. KIT is leading work package 4 of aUPaEU, which is focused on Open Science and engaging with external stakeholders.

The aUPaEU contact points for KIT are Mr Michael Anger and Ms Lauren Ciancio.

About Accelerate Future HEI

Accelerate Future HEI unites nine testing higher education institutions and three testing partners in developing and testing acceleration services, to equip HEIs with the skills and capacity to drive institutional transformation towards becoming more entrepreneurial and innovative institutions.