Research Groups & Institutes

The ERGs and ERIs form the backbone of EUt+’s collaborative research initiatives, combining expertise from all partner universities to achieve common research goals. Research activities within EUt+ are organized into two main structures:

EUt+ Research Groups (ERG): These are research teams that provide a framework for collaborative research.
EUt+ Research Institutes (ERI): These are research institutes established based on high-profile criteria and subject to evaluation. ERIs adopt a unified identity (a shared name).

EUt+ Research Groups (ERGs)

The EUt+ Research Groups (ERGs) are dynamic thematic research communities formed within the EUt+ alliance. They contribute significantly to the bottom-up emergence of future research priorities across the alliance, empowering researchers to drive innovation from within the community. Centered around specific and clearly defined scientific topics, ERGs bring together experts from different member universities to collaborate on targeted projects and address emerging scientific challenges. Acting as flexible and agile platforms, ERGs allow researchers to launch joint initiatives, prepare competitive funding proposals, and develop joint publications while fostering close integration of students and early-career researchers into thematic international networks.

Through their collaborative and adaptable nature, ERGs support the EUt+ ambition to strengthen its research landscape and accelerate the evolution towards a cohesive, interconnected European University. By fostering active, cross-border research cooperation at thematic and project levels, ERGs ensure that the EUt+ alliance remains responsive, forward-looking, and aligned with Europe’s broader research and innovation objectives.

EUt+ Research Institutes (ERIs)

The EUt+ Research Institutes (ERIs) represent a strategic and permanent concentration of research strengths within the EUt+ alliance. They bring together researchers and academics from member universities under a unified European identity. Designed as stable and structured entities, ERIs play a central role in anchoring research integration across EUt+. They support the creation of new institutes, the development of common operational processes, and the emergence of innovative, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and specialized research structures. ERIs contribute to building a cohesive and visible research environment across the alliance through:

Long-term research projects;
Hosting of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers;
Leadership or participation in international funded research initiatives;
Development of joint scientific publications.

Long-term research projects, the hosting of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, leadership or participation in international funded research initiatives, and the development of joint scientific publications.,.

By fostering excellence, visibility, and cohesion in research, ERIs directly support the EUt+ mission of constructing a truly integrated European University. ERIs constitute one of the means for EUt+ to effectively contribute to the European Research Area (ERA).

ERGs/ERIs Objectives

To enable and promote effective collaboration among researchers in joint research initiatives.

To support the development of members' skills and the implementation of best practices, based on the exchange of knowledge, resources, and infrastructure.

To actively pursue the submission of proposals and securing funding and grants for research projects.

To enhance mobility for academics and researchers within EUt+ member institutions.

To collaborate with external stakeholders such as industry, public organizations, other research institutes, and higher education institutions.

Funding

The financial sustainability of each ERG/ERI depends on submitting research proposals, securing, and successfully implementing competitive research projects, as well as actively seeking and obtaining external funding sources. This includes grants from national and international funding bodies, industry partnerships, and collaborative research initiatives.

The EUt+ Research Office (ERO) plays a crucial role in supporting this process by providing guidance on funding opportunities, assisting with proposal development, and offering administrative support for research projects.

By leveraging the expertise and resources of the ERO Offices, ERGs/ERIs can strengthen their financial sustainability, increase the impact of their research, and promote long-term growth within the EUt+ alliance.