Innovation in Progress: Highlights from INITIATE’s Recent Events

Over the past trimester, the INITIATE Horizon Europe project has made significant strides in advancing its mission to drive green and digital transformation in higher education. Key activities included the 2nd General Assembly and R&I Policy Lab held from 3–5 June in Skopje, North Macedonia, as well as the first R&I Lab hosted by UNIZAG FSB in Zagreb on 25 April 2025. These events brought together partners from academia, industry, and public authorities to exchange insights, review progress, and collaborate on co-designing innovative solutions across pilot sites. As leader of Work Package 4, ESEIA played a central role in coordinating the Research and Innovation Labs and supporting stakeholder engagement efforts across the consortium.

Photo: 2nd INITIATE General Assembly, 3–5 June 2025, in Skopje, North Macedonia

2^nd INITIATE General Assembly

The 2nd INITIATE General Assembly took place from June 2–5, 2025, hosted by Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies. We extend our thanks to all partners for their active participation and to our hosts for their warm welcome and excellent hospitality.

Over three productive days, partners reviewed progress across the seven work packages and discussed next steps. A highlight was the panel discussion on “Green Transition and Digital Transformation: Interdisciplinary Pathways in Higher Education Institutions,” which set the tone for our collaborative efforts.

ESEIA proudly leads WP4 – the INITIATE Research and Innovation Laboratory. Our Project Assistant, Sila Celebi, presented WP4’s core objectives and the co-design of user engagement for capacity building. WP4 adopts a dynamic and inclusive approach, linking expert knowledge with real-world experimentation and policy development. The work package focuses on co-developing KPIs, designing feedback tools, and structuring nine R&I Labs across three pilot sites in Skopje, Lisbon, and Zagreb. By involving experts from academia, industry, and public authorities, WP4 ensures diverse insights and systematic documentation, while disseminating activities to maximize visibility and impact.

WP4 achievements over the past 16 months include:

• Developing an evaluation plan for co-creating user engagement in capacity building.
• Delivering a co-design report on user engagement (D4.1), coordinated by partner B1.
• Planning the format and implementation of nine R&I Labs, with five successfully completed over the last eight months.

Next steps for WP4:

• Completing the remaining R&I Labs.
• Analyzing lab outcomes to identify policy gaps and regulatory barriers.
• Mapping pilot-specific challenges to inform targeted policy recommendations.

WP4’s ongoing efforts contribute to building a strategic roadmap and support the formation of an Alliance for the Green Energy Transition.

2nd R&I Lab Hosted by UKIM at the General Assembly

On the third day of the General Assembly, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University (UKIM) hosted the 2nd R&I Policy Lab focusing on “Bridging Policy and Innovation: Research and Funding Strategies.”

The workshop opened with a presentation by Vladimir Gjorgievski on North Macedonia’s policy landscape and key drivers for research and innovation. This was followed by an interactive Q&A session, using Mentimeter to gather partner insights—especially from pilot site hosts—on how national policies align with pilot needs and innovation support.

After a networking and knowledge exchange session, UKIM researchers showcased their ongoing projects and research activities. Following a coffee break, participants were introduced to funding opportunities from LIFE Programme calls, Horizon Europe, and the Interreg ADRION call, presented by UKIM.

The session concluded with a workshop on MSCA Staff Exchanges, moderated by ESEIA. Building on the first R&I Lab hosted by UKIM, partners discussed potential contributions to the call. From these discussions, three thematic clusters emerged, reflecting the consortium’s shared strengths and strategic directions. Partner input forms helped identify institutional expertise, potential secondment flows, and relevant thematic areas to support collaboration.

1st R&I Lab Held in Zagreb by UNIZAG FSB

On 25 April 2025, the University of Zagreb – FSB hosted the first INITIATE R&I Lab in Croatia, focusing on “Croatia’s Energy Transition: Innovation and Opportunities through EU Projects.” The event gathered experts from academia, government, and industry to explore the role of EU-funded initiatives in driving green and digital transformation.

Highlights included opening remarks by UNIZAG FSB and the Croatian Ministry of Science, a keynote by the European Research Executive Agency, and presentations of key projects such as INITIATE, EMERGE, and MARBLE. Panel discussions emphasized the need for cross-sectoral collaboration and strategic investment in research and innovation for a sustainable future.

Photo: 1st R&I Lab Held in Zagreb, 25 April 2025