EULiST |

“The Waltz of Pioneers” – Celebrating Europe’s Top Early-Stage spin-offs

31/07/2025

As part of the ViennaUP Festival, The Waltz of Pioneers took place on May 12th, 2025, at TU Wien – an event spotlighting academic spin-offs from across Europe. Organized by the TU Wien Innovation Incubation Center (i²c) and powered by the EULiST European University Alliance, the event marked the launch of the first-ever EULiST pan-European spin-off pitch competition.

The competition brought together participants from 28 countries and nine leading European universities, each showcasing their most innovative ventures through ten inspiring pitches spanning a diverse range of industries. TU Wien was represented by co2ol Catalyst, a pioneering startup converting CO₂ into methanol – a crucial step toward a more sustainable future.

A jury of experts provided feedback and posed insightful questions, while the networking session that followed gave spin-offs the opportunity to connect directly with investors and key figures from Europe’s innovation ecosystem. The event was further supported by the Austrian Business Agency, the Vienna Business Agency, and TU Wien’s SpinOff Factory.

Competition Highlights:

Best EULiST Spin-off 2025: Replico (IMT, France) – awarded for their 3D-printed anatomical models with integrated nerve structures. The team received a €3,000 prize sponsored by SpinOff Factory and a media package from Brutkasten.

X-ECD took second place and was awarded a professionally produced promotional video.

The Waltz of Pioneers not only celebrated Europe’s vibrant academic spin-offs but also strengthened the cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange at the heart of the EULiST Alliance.

EULiST Student Conference 2025 in Douai, France: A Week of Collaboration, Innovation and Cultural Connections

15/07/2025

From June 30th to July 4th, 2025, the IMT Nord Europe in Douai, France, hosted the second edition of the EULiST Student Conference. Bringing together 200 students of all levels (undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD), with diverse fields of study, from across the 10 EULiST partner universities and countries, this marks the alliance’s largest student event.

On 30^th June, the conference opened with a warm welcome from the Mayor of Douai, Dr. Frédéric Chereau.

Day 1 – Opening and Thematic Workshops

On 1^st July, a hot sunny day in Douai, the conference officially began with an inspiring Opening Ceremony. Welcoming addresses were delivered by the Director of IMT Nord Europe, Céline Fasulo, the EULiST Secretary General, Dr. Natia Gamkrelidze, the IMT Vice-President for Academic and International Affairs and EULiST Management Board member, Dr. Frédérique Vincent, and the Chair of the EULiST Management Board and Director of Internationalization at URJC, Pablo Tomás Salvadores Alonso. In addition, the ceremony featured an engaging panel discussion with the former Rector of NTUA, Professor Andreas Boudouvis, and the Policy Officer for Higher Education at the European Commission, Ioana Dewandeler, who shared valuable perspectives on the role of university alliances in shaping Europe’s educational future. Students from the organising team also took the stage to welcome participants and encourage everyone to make the most of the diverse opportunities ahead.

In the afternoon, participants took part in seven interactive workshops designed to foster group work, critical thinking, and creativity – encouraging students to think “outside the room” both figuratively and literally. The thematic workshops, a central part of the conference, were held in two sessions, Session 1 on the first day, and Session 2 on the third day. A highlight was the EULiST Digital Campus workshop, where students tested the first pilot version of the Digital Campus platform and shared their feedback.

The workshops provided students with the opportunity to tackle key topics, solve problems collaboratively, and work with peers from different countries. Participants chose workshops aligned with their interests and joined mixed groups of students, researchers, and professionals. Together, they explored issues shaping the future of academia and society, aiming to develop solutions with real impact beyond the conference.

At the end of the day, the International Evening was a memorable event, where each country’s delegation brought traditional snacks and drinks for everyone to try, giving all participants the chance to experience different European flavours.

Day 2 – Pitch Sessions, Hackathon, and Cultural Activities

The second day of the EULiST Student Conference was filled with fresh perspectives and forward-thinking ideas. The EULiST Pitch Sessions gave students the opportunity to present their academic projects and innovative solutions to some of tomorrow’s most pressing challenges. Organised into three 45-minute rounds, the sessions encouraged lively exchanges and inspired new ways of thinking.

Hackathon teams also began developing ideas with real-world applications, setting the foundation for projects that will continue to grow beyond the conference.

Participants supported each other enthusiastically, creating a positive and collaborative atmosphere.

A true highlight of the day was the inspiring keynote speech by Marianne Heiß, former CEO, advisory board member, bestselling author, and advocate for female leadership and sustainable business. In her talk, Design Your Career in International Business, she encouraged students to be bold, clear, and authentic in shaping their professional paths. Her message resonated strongly with participants, offering honest insights and practical advice for navigating the international business landscape.

In the afternoon, participants stepped outside the classroom to discover Douai’s rich heritage — exploring historic mines, visiting the planetarium, and taking a guided walking tour through the heart of the city.

Day 3 – Thematic Workshops, Poster Session, and Closing Gala

On 3^rd July, the second round of thematic workshops took place. This was followed by the EULiST Poster Session, where participants had the chance to dive into exciting research, meet inspiring people, and spark new collaborations.

The day also featured a thought-provoking keynote by Dr. Tim Flohrer, Head of the Space Debris Office at the European Space Agency (ESA), and a leading expert on the growing challenge of space debris, who highlighted how science, policy, and industry must work together to ensure a sustainable and safe orbital environment.

Finally, a Closing Gala at the Louvre-Lens Museum brought together participants, partners, and guests from across Europe for a night of celebration, discovery, and connection.

Overall, the 2nd EULiST Student Conference in Douai was an enriching experience for everyone involved, providing countless opportunities for personal growth, academic development, and intercultural exchange. It was a week that embodied the shared vision of all partner institutions — fostering collaboration, innovation, and meaningful connections while shaping the future of higher education and society in Europe together.

For the full program of the Student Conference, please visit its website.

First EULiST In-Person PR Unit Meeting: Three inspiring days in Athens

14/07/2025

The first in-person EULiST PR Unit meeting was successfully hosted by the National Technical University of Athens from 23 to 25 June 2025 in the vibrant city of Athens, Greece.

Representatives from nearly all ten EULiST member universities gathered to meet each other and work face-to-face for the first time on shaping the future of the alliance’s communication and outreach. This meeting was also the first in-person gathering attended by EULiST’s new Secretary General, Dr. Natia Gamkrelidze — an honour for the entire team.

The agenda focused on strategic alignment, message harmonisation, communication tools, and joint campaigns to showcase the strength and impact of EULiST — 10 universities, 200,000 students, and 20,000 staff across Europe.

On the first day, each university presented its local PR structure, followed by a fruitful exchange of best practices and a presentation of the FOREU4ALL alliance.
The second day included discussions on the alliance’s strategic positioning, project flagships, work package deliverables, and the overall narrative. LUT University (Finland) also shared an update on the progress of the new logo and branding. Finally, the team reviewed existing EULiST communication channels and explored ideas for new ones to enhance outreach and engagement.

On the final day, discussions focused on the PR Unit’s contribution to several major upcoming events, including the 2^nd EULiST Student Conference (30 June – 4 July), the EAIE Conference and Exhibition in September, and the 1^st EULiST Global Conference in Madrid this November. Next implementation steps were defined in line with the EULiST Communication and Dissemination Strategy, alongside the upcoming recruitment of a Communications Manager.

Beyond the working sessions, many social events — including dinners and outings in the centre of Athens with breathtaking views of the Acropolis — gave members the chance to build strong personal connections and set the foundation for more direct and effective collaboration in the months ahead to further enhance EULiST’s visibility and impact across Europe.

The energy, creativity, and dedication of each participant were invaluable. Together, we continue to build a stronger EULiST — linking society and technology for a sustainable, inclusive, and connected Europe!

Detailed Agenda

EULiST WP3 “Teaching and Learning” Workshop in Athens: Advancing the EULiST Agora for Education

10/07/2025

From June 17th to 18th, 2025, the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) hosted the in-person workshop of Work Package 3 “EULiST Teaching & Learning”.

The main objective of the meeting was to bring together WP3 partners and experts to further develop the implementation plan for key WP3 outputs, specifically Deliverable 3.2 “Pilot implementation and evaluation of EULiST Agora Education tools” and Milestone 9 “AI for Education Toolkit”.

The agenda also included:

A joint session between WP2 “EULiST Campus” and WP3 focusing on the advancement of the EULiST Joint Course Catalogue, finalizing its structure and content and aligning it with the broader EULiST Agora for Education
Discussions on integrating innovative teaching methodologies and defining workflows for the pilot courses.
Discussions on strategies for implementing microcredentials within the EULiST framework.
Live demonstrations of AI tools, which will be included in the first release of the AI toolkit and integrated into the EULiST Digital Campus.
Discussions with TG 1.5 on how to integrate SDGs into Education: a proposed project for Professional Faculty Development focused on including environmental and social responsibility into everyday teaching.

This workshop fostered collaboration and meaningful connections among the member universities and stood as strong proof of the shared vision of all partner institutions: working together to advance teaching and learning and shape the future of higher education across Europe!

Second Language Services Working Group (LSWG) Meeting in Athens

07/07/2025

Hot temperatures and cool ideas: Report from the 2^nd meeting of the Language Services Working Group (LSWG), 12-13 June 2025, Athens

The Language Services Working Group (LSWG) has just had its second meeting – this time at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). Despite the unusually hot weather for June, we set about discussing and clarifying the scope and goals of the five subprojects defined at the first meeting at the Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) in October 2024. These five subprojects were given the green light by their respective WPs and include both tandem- and project learning, creating a glossary and offering a blended intensive programme. We also began a sixth subproject: the creation of a EULiST language centre with 20 language courses, which has been defined as one of the key performance indicators (KPI) within EULiST.

It was great to see that eight of the ten EULiST universities were able to participate, either in person in Athens or online. The meeting, meticulously organised by our colleague Goni Togia (NTUA), began with a warm welcome by Professor Athanasios Zisis, Management Board Co-Chair and Vice Rector for Academic Affairs and Life-Long Learning, Professor A. Zisis. He was followed by the NTUA Executive Director, Dr. M. Vardaki and the EULIST Scientific Coordinator, Professor Emeritus K. Adam. The presence of local members of various EULiST WPs helped in connecting our discussions to ideas in the wider project.

We then continued with progress reports from the five subgroups, starting with subgroup 2 on the EULiST tandem platform, led by Klaus Schwienhorst (LUH). We plan to open the tandem platform to all EULiST students in October 2025 and hope to solve any challenges we face until then. This involves creating a short tandem video, organising webinars for teachers and workshops for tandem counsellors, editing texts in the interface and adding new functionality.

After an excellent lunch, we continued with subgroup 3 on project-based learning and language courses, led by Ben Hill (IMT). This group aims to compile a good-practice guidebook and conduct a survey on project-based learning, followed by a pilot programme in 2025-2026. We also discussed how we could contribute to the EULiST student conference in Douai, which had been requested at very short notice. We welcomed the request, and agreed that Ben would discuss our ideas with the organising committee. In the evening, NTUA invited us to a fabulous outdoor dinner at a tavern not far from the Acropolis.

The second day started with a presentation by Professor Mitrou from the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NTUA, on controlled vocabularies and subject classification. This provided an excellent introduction to subgroup 4, whose goal is to create a EULiST glossary and select a standard variety of English to be used in EULiST. The subgroup is led by Joy Reid (LUH), assisted by Chris Schubert (TUW). Jolana Tlukova (BUT) will coordinate a more short-term project on the compilation of a glossary for Erasmus student journeys to facilitate student exchanges. The whole LSWG agreed that British English should be used consistently throughout all EULiST documentation (e.g. the website, brochures, announcements, protocols). This involves mostly spelling, but also choice of vocabulary. We will inform the relevant WPs shortly.

After lunch, we moved on to subproject 5 which plans to set up a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) on global citizenship education and languages in intercultural communication. This BIP is organised by Pasi Puranen (LUT) together with Dagmar Schimmel (LUH) and Natalja Zabeida (LUH). The group plans to have all promotional materials ready by October 2025, so that the BIP can take place as planned in early 2026.

We then also discussed subproject 1, which would compile all language services by EULiST partners on a web site by October 2025. WP 3 will define how the language services can be linked to the EULiST course catalogue. Klaus Schwienhorst leads this subgroup together with Goni Togia .

We also turned our attention to a new subproject (no. 6) which deals with the creation of 20 language courses, one of the key performance indicators (KPI) within EULiST. Magda Sučková (BUT) leads this subgroup and will arrange a first online meeting to discuss the framework for these language courses. The goal is to enable students from all EULiST universities to achieve rudimentary language skills in all EULiST languages to facilitate exchanges and other study visits. It was encouraging that several LSWG could start as early as winter semester 2025. Finally, the group nominated Klaus Schwienhorst as LSWG coordinator, and Ben Hill as assistant coordinator. Additional NTUA participants in the second day’s discussions included: Prof. E. Dimopoulou (Task 2.1 lead), E. Skordalaki (Task 2.5) and A. Iliakis (Task 5.4).

The second LSGW meeting ended with a delicious meal in Athens’ old town. Many thanks to Goni Togia for the great preparation, fabulous hospitality and excellent organisation of the meeting. The next LSWG meeting is planned for early December 2025 in Madrid where will hopefully be able to review how our first projects have been implemented.

From left to right: Joy Reid (LUH), Klaus Schwienhorst (LUH), Verónica Morgade Cuña (LUH), Chris Schubert (TUW), Magda Sučková (BUT), Tushar Chaudhur (LUH), Eleutheria Skordalaki (NTUA), Pasi Puranen (LUT), Ben Hill (IMT), Goni Togia (NTUA), Eva Karasová (STU), Benjamin W. Doty (STU)

EULiST startups shine at VivaTech 2025

24/06/2025

The 2025 edition of VivaTech broke all records: 180,000 visitors, 14,000 startups, 171 nationalities, and 640,000 business connections. Amidst this thriving innovation ecosystem, the IMT showcased its dynamism by presenting 36 cutting-edge entrepreneurial projects—among them, six startups from the EULiST alliance.

Innovation and impact: EULiST startups take the stage
EULiST, committed to bridging technology and society through sustainable innovation, spotlighted six of its affiliated startups:

DynaNIC Semiconductor (Brno University of Technology) – a deep tech university spin-off specializing in flexible, high-speed backbone connectivity solutions for the telecom and data center sectors. We are currently seeking seed funding to accelerate our go-to-market strategy.
Factorymaker (TU Wien) – develops novel AI-design agents to maximize costs, sustainability and efficiency of industrial production, logistics and warehouse buildings.
FlexCo (TU Wien) – Developing sustainable flexible composite materials for future mobility.
BIOM Research Project (Brno University of Technology) – a modular system for future cities combining smart infrastructure, vertical agriculture, and clean energy, to create self-sufficient and sustainable urban environments.
JOULZEN (Vienna University of Technology) – transforms old oil tanks into intelligent thermal batteries. We capture surplus renewable energy as heat when it’s cheapest, reducing heating costs by 94% while increasing energy independence to 87%. Don’t worry, heat happy!
PRINSUS (National Technical University of Athens) – provision of services to the agri-food sector to develop innovative products, to upgrade and evolve into innovative technologies and business models.
MYTHAMIN (Slovak University of Technology) – creates personalized packs based on your lifestyle or blood test results – no guesswork, just real support for your energy, focus, and long-term health. Feel the difference.

These startups exemplify the EULiST vision: leveraging interdisciplinary collaboration to create high-impact, deeptech solutions addressing Europe’s most pressing challenges—from climate action and digital transformation to social cohesion.

A ministerial visit and a vision for the future
The highlight of the event was the visit of Eric Lombard, the French Minister of the Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, who discovered firsthand the entrepreneurial energy of the IMT incubators, including EULiST-aligned ventures. This moment underscored the alignment of EULiST with national strategies for economic sovereignty and digital innovation.

EULiST: from local roots to european reach
With its 10-university consortium spanning Europe, EULiST is building a unique academic and innovation ecosystem. Rooted in local regions and committed to transdisciplinary collaboration, EULiST supports student entrepreneurship as a key driver for regional development, European cohesion, and global sustainability.

Workshop on Inclusive Mobility – Advancing Equity in European Mobility Programs

27/05/2025

On May 14, 2025, an online workshop on Inclusive Mobility was co-organized by Lisa Wikberg (JU) and Tinatin Kakabadze (IMT), in the framework of the EULiST Alliance. The session was led by the Academic and Student Services team (WP 2.5 “Academic Support Centre”) and brought together colleagues committed to improving access and support for all students and staff across our universities.

Inclusive mobility is a key priority for EULiST. This workshop was part of our benchmarking activity across the network, which will help us define common baselines and minimum standards for inclusion within the alliance. It brought together 35 participants from across partner institutions, who shared valuable insights, practical examples, and current challenges related to implementing inclusive mobility policies.

We would like to warmly thank our speakers:

Emma Pavlov and Tereza Thorn (Jönköping University) – for sharing best practices in inter-university cooperation and inclusive frameworks.
Christiane Stolz (Leibniz Universität Hannover) – for her impactful contribution on why inclusive mobility must be a shared responsibility, supported at both the strategic and operational levels.
Martin Očko (Brno University of Technology) – for presenting key information on funding opportunities available to support students with fewer opportunities.

As part of the session, we also explored the Inclusive Mobility platform, an EU-level resource that provides transparency and data on the support services offered by higher education institutions for students with disabilities and specific needs. We see this as a valuable tool to guide institutional improvement and reinforce a culture of accessibility across our network.

This benchmarking work is a crucial step toward building an inclusive and cohesive mobility framework within EULiST, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to participate in international experiences—regardless of their background or needs.

EULiST General Assembly 2025 at UnivAQ in L’ Aquila

14/04/2025

The annual EULiST General Assembly 2025 was successfully hosted by the University of L’ Aquila (UnivAQ) from March 31 to April 2, 2025, in the historic “Luigi Zordan” Congress Centre at the monastery of St. Basil, in the heart of L’ Aquila, Italy.

The event welcomed over 150 participants from the 10 partner universities. Academic leaders, including rectors, presidents, and vice-rectos, as well as professors, researchers, administrative staff, students, and other representatives from EULiST partner universities convened for this annual gathering to reflect on achievements to date and to define the next strategic steps.

The main topics discussed during the three-day General Assembly included:

Strategies for student and staff mobility in EULiST
Sustainable EULiST Campuses
STEM Education for Competitiveness
EULiST Digital Campus
EULiST Internship Platform
Internal and external communication in EULiST
Managing the European University Alliances – EU Challenges
European Degree and Label
EULiST Quality Assurance System
Upcoming events: EULiST Global Conference and Student Conference

Throughout the Assembly, a series of parallel meetings took place, including sessions of the Governing Board, Management Board, Student Board, Coordination Office, and the Project Steering Committee. On the final day, several parallel WP/TG meetings were also held. In particular, WP2, WP3, WP4, TG1.3, and TG1.4 met to assess the current progress of their respective activities and to collaboratively outline the roadmap for the upcoming months.

One of the most significant moments of the event was the inauguration of the 2024/25 academic year at the University of L’Aquila (UnivAQ). This occasion served as a meaningful gathering of Italian universities, represented by guest rectors, alongside delegates from all EULiST partner institutions— underscoring the shared commitment of the EULiST member universities to fostering a strong and interconnected academic community.

Furthermore, the General Assembly hosted the first session in a new series of webinars dedicated to the professional development of academic staff, an initiative promoted within the EULiST Alliance. Coordinated by Task Group 3.2 “Innovative Teaching and Learning Methodologies”, the series aims to provide academic staff with innovative tools and advanced strategies to enhance teaching and learning. The inaugural webinar, titled “Challenge-based Learning: An Active Pedagogy in Higher Education,” was led by Prof. Claudia Migliaccio of the Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT), Paris.

The EULiST General Assembly 2025 marked another important milestone in the Alliance’s journey, reinforcing the collective efforts of its member universities toward shaping an inclusive, innovative, and future-oriented European Higher Education Area.

EULiST Task Group 2.1 “Digital Campus Infrastructure” Meeting at NTUA

07/04/2025

The most recent meeting of EULiST Task Group 2.1 took place from March 26th to 28th, 2025 at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). Task 2.1 is focused on the development of EULiST Digital Campus platform, an integrated digital environment designed to support teaching and learning, research, and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Key components currently under development include the Joint Course Catalogue, the Stakeholders’ Database, the Internship Platform, and a suite of additional digital services aiming at enhancing collaboration and connectivity across the EULiST alliance.

Researchers, professors, technical and administrative staff from all member universities came together for the meeting, to advance the development of the EULiST Digital Campus. A key priority was the launch of the Joint Course Catalogue accessible online by the end of October 2025. The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format, enabling both in person and remote participation.

During the meeting, WP2 leader, Stefan Sandahl from Jönköping University (JU), gave a brief overview of the status of WP2, while Prof. Efi Dimopoulou from NTUA, Task 2.1 Leader, outlined the progress made on the Digital Campus. Prof. Nikolaos Mitrou from NTUA presented the architecture of the Digital Campus, and Ioannis Pispidikis, also from NTUA, demonstrated the respective dashboard under development.

In addition, Zbyněk Křivka from Brno University of Technology (BUT), co-leader of TG2.1, also contributed to the discussion on the system architecture, along with the representatives of TG2.1 from the other universities. Representatives from other WPs and tasks joined the meeting to provide functional requirements for the Digital Campus. Gergely Rakoczi from Technical University of Vienna (TUW) presented students’ needs and expectations for the Digital Campus and discussed the prospect of testing the Digital Campus in collaboration with Marwan Al Azar from Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT), who will co-organize the next EULiST Student Conference.

The meeting opened with a welcome address by Prof. Pavlos Georgilakis, Associate Dean of the NTUA School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Prof. Emer. Katerina Adam, EULiST Scientific Coordinator, and Prof. Efi Dimopoulou, Task 2.1 Leader.

At the end, partners strategized their next steps to achieve Task 2.1 goals and planned their contribution for the upcoming Student Conference in Douai. They also had the opportunity to visit the Acropolis Museum and delve into the rich history of Ancient Greece.

EULiST Rectors’ and Presidents’ Meeting in Vienna: Advancing Our Vision for a European Academic Institution

07/02/2025

On January 29-30, 2025, the Rectors and Presidents of the member-universities of the EULiST University Alliance convened at Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) in Austria for a pivotal meeting shaping the alliance’s future. Discussions were held in an exceptionally positive spirit of collaboration, and the participants jointly reached significant decisions on governance, organizational structure, and long-term strategy.

All the heads of the participating universities expressed their strong commitment to working intensively towards the ambitious goal of establishing the alliance as the foundation for a European Academic Institution with an official legal entity. This initiative aims to position the alliance as a leading force in European and global higher education and research, strengthening the connection between science and society.

Key topics on the agenda included:

Project Progress – Reviewing milestones and next steps in the alliance’s implementation.
Strategic Direction & Governance – Defining roles, decision-making structures, and positioning our Alliance within broader European initiatives.
Institutionalization & future Funding – Exploring the potential for legal entity status and long-term financial sustainability.
Selection of the new Secretary General – A crucial step in strengthening leadership and operations.

The valuable contributions of each rector and president will guide the alliance in its next steps. With a shared vision and strong collaboration, EULiST is taking decisive steps toward building a unified European Academic Institution.