First set of Policy implications and recommendations: A step forward for the ERA

First set of Policy implications and recommendations: A step forward for the ERA

The CATALISI project, together with its sister initiatives aUPaEU and Accelerate Future HEI, has undertaken a critical task: identifying key policy gaps and formulating recommendations aimed at the European Commission. The primary objective of this first policy brief is to align high-level European Research Area (ERA) policies and their practical application within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). 

The results of this brief are based upon the activities of the first year of implementation of the three projects. The insights presented in this brief are drawn from extensive data collection, the design and testing of methodologies, and the implementation of acceleration services across various European HEIs and alliances.  

Identified Gaps in the ERA Policy Agenda

  • Lack of definition for “Acceleration Services: The overall aim of the Higher Education Institutions acceleration services is to help institutions to successfully implement a strategy and roadmap for transformation, but the term “acceleration services” lacks a clear, universally accepted definition. This ambiguity complicates the application and target audience identification. 
 
  • Challenges in open knowledge sharing: The diversity of national regulations concerning public information sharing obstructs a cohesive approach to listing and sharing research infrastructures across Europe. This inconsistency challenges the integration and use of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), essential for fostering a collaborative research environment. 
 
  • Disconnect between ERA policy’s “high-level” principles and HEI implementation: There is a significant gap between the overarching principles outlined in the ERA policy agenda and the practical realities of its implementation at the HEI level.  
 
  • Need for a European Community of R&I professionals: Establishing a dedicated community of professionals in research and innovation (R&I) transformation is crucial. This network could facilitate reforms and ensure sustainable change, bridging the gap between policy development and practical application. 
 

The brief aims to ensure that, by addressing these gaps, ERA policies are not only theoretically sound but also practically implementable, thereby enabling HEIs to contribute more effectively to Europe’s research and innovation landscape. 

Actions in the ERA Policy Agenda requiring additional support

Many of the key points of the ERA Policy Agenda 2022-2024 underscore the importance of institutional transformation within Universities and HEIs as key contributors to the ERA (European Commission, 2021). The work of CATALISI, aUPaEU, and Accelerate Future HEI supports HEIs transformation in a number of areas such as promoting Open Science and Inclusiveness, strengthening and linking research infrastructures.  However, drawing from the insights of all three projects, it is crucial to underscore the importance of ongoing assessments to determine whether individual institutions possess the necessary resources and infrastructure to sustain the implementation of changes over the long term.  

 Additional support will be needed for 

  • Open sharing of knowledge (ERA policy action 1): To mitigate the challenges posed by varied national regulations, there needs to be greater harmonization and clear guidelines. This effort could be supported by specialized legal services or networks that assist HEIs in compliance and knowledge-sharing initiatives. 
 
  • Research assessment reform (ERA policy actions 3 and 7): Reforming research assessment systems to recognize a broader range of academic achievements beyond traditional metrics is essential. This shift would promote greater innovation and alignment with ERA priorities. 
 
  • Transition from macro to micro level (ERA policy action 13): HEIs require more tailored support to adapt broad ERA policies to their specific contexts. This includes providing resources and infrastructure necessary for effective implementation at institutional level. 
 

These recommendations represent preliminary insights, with more comprehensive suggestions to be detailed in our second policy brief, expected in December 2025. 

 

The three projects—CATALISI, Accelerate HEI, and aUPaEU— complement each other through their unique approaches to acceleration services and institutional transformation. The project´s complementarity is particularly focused on: 

  • Stakeholder engagement and co-creation at each phase of the project activities, to ensure involvement of different perspectives and ownership of the process. 
  • Data and evidence-based approach to identify the key challenges and opportunities for transformation. 
  • Institutional transformation and roadmap development regarding becoming entrepreneurial and innovative HEIs, including the identification of opportunities and challenges to address in acceleration services and coaching activities. 
  • Iterative and agile process methodology has ongoing monitoring mechanisms built in to adapt to the new findings and gaps identified. 
  • Networking and collaboration through workshops, events and training activities, partners are presented with opportunities to network and build collaborations. 

Throughout the first year, the projects have collaborated closely through joint actions, including communication and dissemination efforts, mutual learning events, and policy workshops. They’ve also shared resources and expertise, like by opening coaching and learning events to all partners and collaborating on evaluation and impact assessment. A This collaboration aims to enhance the practical impact of ERA policies on HEIs by leveraging the strengths of each project. 

As we continue our work through the CATALISI, aUPaEU, and Accelerate Future HEI projects, we will update and enrich refine these recommendations based on ongoing research and pilot testing.   

Stay tuned for further updates as we work towards a more integrated and effective European Research Area. 

🌟 An interview with Maria Carmela Fierro, CATALISI’s Project Coordinator

🌟 An interview with Maria Carmela Fierro, CATALISI's Project Coordinator

How does your background in Political Science has influenced your career in managing EU Research and Innovation projects?

I think that my degree in Political Science was instrumental in shaping my career in managing EU research and innovation projects, especially at the beginning. My academic background provided me with a strong foundation in understanding EU political dynamics, policy frameworks and EU decision-making processes. This knowledge has been invaluable in navigating the complexities of EU programmes and regulations. However, what I have learnt about projects has been shaped by years of working on different types of projects such as ERC projects, Marie Curie projects, INTERREG projects.

With your extensive experience in supporting organizations in managing EU projects, what would you say are the key challenges and rewards of such roles?

Throughout my career I have been involved in supporting both private and public organisations in managing EU projects. This involvement has allowed me to understand that each organisation has its own priorities and challenges when dealing with EU projects. Therefore, the key challenges often revolve around reconciling these different interests and ensuring effective communication and collaboration between partners. When you see in a project that different organisations – who may never have worked together before – are collaborating to achieve common goals and results, it is something valuable.

CATALISI aims to transform higher education institutions to become lighthouses of European values. Can you elaborate on what these “European values” mean to the project?

European values in the context of CATALISI include principles such as inclusiveness, diversity, sustainability and an overall commitment to excellence in research. The CATALISI project offers a unique opportunity for European higher education institutions to make a deep commitment to advancing these European values, reflecting a vision of higher education institutions that goes beyond academic achievement to encompass societal impact.

As the coordinator of the CATALISI Community of Practice (CoP), what do you envision as the most impactful contributions of the CoP members?

I envision that members of the CATALISI Community of Practice (CoP) can make an impact by fostering a collaborative environment for sharing best practices, innovative ideas and addressing common challenges. The CoP will serve as a hub for collective learning, creating a space where diverse perspectives converge to drive positive change in higher education institutions across Europe.

What would be your call to action for potential members of the CATALISI CoP from education and research to digitalization and policy-making, and why should they join this community?

By participating in the CoP, individuals, experts and/or experienced professionals, can engage in meaningful discussions, share their expertise in a wide range of R&I areas, from open science, public engagement and outreach of research, to lifelong learning, digitisation of research, talent support and circulation, gender and inclusion plans. Today an institutional transformation pathway towards these areas cannot be achieved alone, in a vacuum, it requires a broaden support coming from ideas, stories, methods of a broaden Community of peers. 

In your opinion, what qualities and expertise make an individual an ideal fit for the CATALISI CoP, and how do you see the diverse backgrounds of CoP members enriching the community’s discussions and outputs?

This is quite a challenging question. I would not speak of an ideal CATALISI CoP member in terms of expertise, any background is welcome. I think the ideal CATALISI CoP member is someone who strongly believes in the potential of mutual learning from the experiences of a wide community of stakeholders, who wants to contribute with his/her knowledge and practices on these topics and benefit at the same time from those of others. The ability to collaborate effectively, a passion for promoting European values and a commitment to continuous learning are qualities that will enrich the dynamics of the CoP.

Where do you see the CATALISI project in the next 3 years, and what lasting impact do you hope it will have on European Higher Education Institutions?

In the next 3 years, I believe that CATALISI Higher Education Institutions have planted seeds for their institutional transformation, defined their own pathway which becomes a catalyst for future profound changes also in the long run , fostering an environment where planning and achieving a transformation becomes easier and easier.

How does APRE’s role in CATALISI, especially in knowledge sharing, mutual learning, and coordinating the Community of Practice, contribute to the broader objectives of the project?

APRE’s role is meant to facilitate the creation of this environment, contributing to knowledge sharing, mutual learning, in providing a methodology for capacity building, as well as by facilitating collaboration and information exchange amongst the CoP.