EURECA-PRO Flagships:
The Academic Communities Shaping the Backbone of our European University
- News
The beginning of July marked an important milestone for EURECA-PRO’s research strategy as the leaders of the Alliance’s first Flagships came together. More than a coordination meeting, this event officially launched a new phase in the development of interdisciplinary academic communities designed to strengthen research collaboration across the Alliance.
Bringing together researchers, academics as well as Bachelor, Master and PhD students around key challenges linked to Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), the Flagships aim to become long-term drivers for research, education, innovation and societal engagement.
Benoît Grasser (UL) and Noni Maravelaki (TUC), leaders of the task focusing on ‘Research Cooperation’, explain why the Flagships represent a major step forward for the future of EURECA-PRO.
Academic communities driving European research within the Alliance
“Flagships are the Alliance’s leading initiative for building vibrant, interdisciplinary and multi-partner research communities around specific areas of SDG 12, while also fostering education and skills development in support of SDG4 (Quality Education)” explained Benoît Grasser and Noni Maravelaki.
The first four EURECA-PRO Flagships focus on Sustainable Mining and Resources, Sustainable Materials for Buildings, Social Sciences and Humanities for Transition(s) and Energy in Transition, while two additional Flagships are expected to be created in the near future, addressing the issues of (One) Health for Sustainable Transitions and Industry 5.0 for Responsible Production.
Although European University Alliances are not designed to directly fund research, they rely on strong scientific foundations. The knowledge generated within the Flagships is intended to feed the other dimensions of the Knowledge Square (education, innovation and collaboration with society) while creating fertile ground for new European research collaborations and future funding opportunities.
From vision to action
The creation of the Flagships is the result of a process launched at the beginning of the second phase of EURECA-PRO.
“It takes time for researchers and support teams to get to know one another and build common ambitions,” they explained. “Over the past months, academic leaders have emerged, collective dynamics have developed, and Flagship proposals have gradually taken shape according to a framework established by the Alliance.“
Several workshops and meetings, both online and on-site, enabled these projects to mature before the EURECA-PRO Board of Rectors officially approved the first four Flagships during the first half of 2026.
The July meeting therefore marks the transition towards a much more operational phase, focusing on short- and medium-term priorities while also launching the communication campaign designed to make these communities visible and attract new members.
Creating opportunities across the Alliance
Beyond organising research activities, the Flagships are expected to become powerful collaborative ecosystems.
They will enable researchers to pool expertise, infrastructures and equipment, develop ambitious European research projects and strengthen applications for competitive funding.
Their impact will also extend to education, by supporting new learning opportunities, innovative teaching activities, doctoral cooperation, student mobility across the Alliance as well as by creating opportunity for students to engage with innovation ecosystems and entrepreneurial initiatives.
PhD students already play a central role in this dynamic. Several Joint PhD projects are already being co-supervised and co-funded by EURECA-PRO partners within the Flagships, helping to advance scientific knowledge while strengthening links between laboratories. More broadly, the Flagships will contribute to the development of “bridged labs”, that is interconnected research environments that facilitate long-term collaboration, shared infrastructures, joint supervision and the seamless circulation of researchers, students and expertise across partner universities.
The communities also aim to engage actors beyond academia (including citizens, businesses, associations and policy-makers) around research and education initiatives addressing major societal challenges across Europe.
"Laboratories without walls"
The Flagships are often described as “laboratories without walls“.
According to Benoît Grasser and Noni Maravelaki, this reflects their nature as scientific communities united by a shared vision and common projects rather than new institutional structures.
For researchers and doctoral candidates, joining a Flagship means gaining access to a European network where ideas, expertise, infrastructures and mobility opportunities can be shared to develop ambitious collaborative projects.
“The Flagships should not be seen as additional administrative structures,” they concluded. “Instead, they are designed to create new opportunities for existing laboratories while contributing to the shared ambition of EURECA-PRO.“
Join our communities and help shape the future of European research within EURECA-PRO!
