Fostering institutional transformation of r&i policies in european universities
Since its inception, the European University Network FORTHEM has boosted cooperation between its participating institutions. With this proposal, FORTHEM plans to intensify common R&I activities, promote joint concepts and strategies, foster the co-creation of science, and reduce inequalities between members by sharing good practices and resources, both technological and human. FIT FORTHEM will build up knowledge and structures, including a virtual joint support centre, leading to an efficient pooling of resources and providing a home for FORTHEM’s activities in R&I and social, cultural and entrepreneurial interaction. A dedicated WP will nurture a deep mutual understanding between all actors, and another WP will ensure mutual exchange both internally and with external stakeholders. We will develop common agendas for R&I activities including a joint open science policy, plan the efficient use of common or shared resources, and reinforce a lively intersectoral exchange. In doing so, the specificities of each member will be taken into account to receive tailored support. Activities will be supported by seven FORTHEM Labs, designed to advance collaborative research and establish new forms of cooperation. These co-creation labs will formulate needs and test new models and be the incubators of transformation in FIT FORTHEM.  As a result, FIT FORTHEM will significantly contribute to making FORTHEM a united entity with strong higher education and R&I strategies and tight links to its socio-economic environment. It will promote well-functioning living FORTHEM Labs that excel in research and breed a solid innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. FIT FORTHEM will join forces with local, regional, and European networks, and current and future alliances in order to maximize this effect. Since FORTHEM is potentially representative of around 90% of universities in Europe, FIT FORTHEM can provide reproducible models in the upcoming transformation processes faced by all universities.