In October 2023, the UAB will host the ECIU University Research Conference, the first conference addressed to both the university community and regional stakeholders, such as businesses, public administrations and civil society, with the aim of proposing and sharing challenge-based research initiatives. With more than 200 participants, the conference is organised by the ECIU University as part of the ECIU University Research Institute for SMART European Regions (SMART-ER) project, funded by the EU's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, and by the Erasmus+ funded programme ECIU University (ECIUn+). It is also coordinated by a scientific committee made up by members of the 12 ECIU universities.
On 3 and 4 October 2023, the UAB will play host to the first ECIU University research conference. The conference aims to provide an interactive forum for discussing common challenges, explore potential collaborations, and contribute to the implementation of shared policies to enhance the resilience of cities and society. 220 participants have registered for the conference to date, which will be made up of different sessions, plenary sessions focusing on cross-curricular issues and specific challenge-based sessions, as well as presentations of the outcomes of some of the challenge-based research initiatives conducted within the SMART-ER project.
The event is open to all members of the university communities belonging to the ECIU University (researchers, students and administration and services staff), as well as to members of city councils, third-sector entities, businesses and external stakeholders interested in sharing and proposing challenges related to the current issues being dealt with at the ECIU: energy and sustainability, circular economies, transport and mobility and resilient communities.
The ECIU University Research Institute for SMART European Regions (SMART-ER) is an alliance in research, innovation and education, enabling all member universities to jointly address complex societal challenges under the framework of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable). The objective of the project is to give support to the research and innovation sector of the ECIU University by developing a shared, comprehensive and long-term strategy in synergy with its educational dimension. There are currently 17 SMART-ER research projects underway, all funded by the Seed Programme and the Citizen Science pilot programme, and seven of these include the involvement of the UAB: BiciZen, CARE Citizen Arenas, ECIU-UTC, EASEM, INSCE, BrownBin, and RN4EUHEALTH.
