Research & Innovation within UNITA
The European alliance UNITA promotes interdisciplinary and collaborative research through several flagship initiatives. It supports the development of innovative projects, the sharing of infrastructure and the emergence of new synergies between partner institutions.
The six research hubs
The UNITA Alliance's research hubs were created to structure and stimulate research within member universities. They aim to bring together researchers from different partner universities to develop joint research programmes and submit joint projects. These hubs, run by a coordination structure comprising one scientific representative per institution, pursue the following objectives:
- Joint research projects: The hubs support the development of joint research projects, enabling researchers to collaborate on common themes. UNITA ‘Starting grants’ and ‘Advanced grants’ provide funding for the emergence and development of collaborative research projects in these research hubs.
- Researcher and student mobility: The hubs encourage researcher and student mobility between partner universities, thereby promoting academic and cultural exchanges,
- Events, seminars and workshops: The hubs organise various events for teacher-researchers and students, aimed at strengthening their collaborations and promoting innovation.
Find news and opportunities from the six research hubs
A mapping of research activities and a network of shared infrastructure complete this system to encourage innovation and cooperation.
Shared research resources: a catalogue and funding to support research activities
The UNITA Alliance has set up a network of shared research infrastructure to strengthen scientific and technological collaboration between its members. These infrastructures give researchers and students access to cutting-edge equipment and platforms offered by the Alliance's 12 partner institutions. The aim is to facilitate interdisciplinary research and encourage innovation through the sharing of resources and expertise.
- Database: A database of UNITA research infrastructures has been created to facilitate access to equipment and resources. This database allows researchers to find and use the infrastructure available within the Alliance, thereby promoting collaboration and innovation.
- Call for projects: A call for projects is currently underway to encourage the use of shared infrastructure. It aims to support the shared use of research resources hosted by our institutions and to fund technical and scientific training (job shadowing).
Joint doctoral supervision and graduate schools
Since 2020, the UNITA Doctoral Schools network has enabled the implementation of joint thesis supervision programmes within the UNITA Alliance.
To date, more than 52 joint theses have been funded within the framework of the UNITA Alliance and its research hubs.
The structuring of this network has strengthened the research capacities of our institutions and provided our young researchers with a cutting-edge environment, enriched by the shared resources of the UNITA Alliance.
Since 2023, the UNITA Alliance has been developing two major initiatives to improve the attractiveness of doctoral studies in our institutions:
- CHORAL Project
Coordinated by the University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour, CHORAL (Cultural Heritage Outreach in RomAnce Languages) is a Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska Curie programme co-funded by the European Union. This prestigious programme is linked to the Cultural Heritage Hub, an international research network within the Alliance, which structures its research ecosystem to address culture-related challenges.
CHORAL aims to train high-level international researchers and encourage the development of interdisciplinary, international and cross-sectoral research that addresses all aspects of cultural heritage. Although rooted in cultural heritage, the programme covers a wide range of scientific fields, including architecture, anthropology, arts and culture, computer science, history, literature, linguistics, management, musicology and many others.
- Graduate schools
The UNITA Alliance's graduate schools are designed to offer advanced training and interdisciplinary research opportunities. These schools offer a continuous programme from Master's to Doctorate level, providing students with a stimulating environment in which to conduct innovative research. The graduate schools aim to structure training through research and promote academic excellence.
Supporting scientific innovation and promoting research results
The UNITA Alliance is actively committed to supporting scientific innovation and promoting research results within its member universities.
- Structuring a network of UNITA ecosystems:
The UNITA Alliance has carried out extensive work to map the private and public actors in their ecosystems in order to promote collaboration between these ecosystems, benefiting from specific support and initiatives offered by our institutions.
- Promoting scientific innovation initiatives and entrepreneurial spirit
Initiated by the INNO-UNITA project, numerous measures and activities are being developed to support academic and administrative staff and students in developing innovative activities intended to be exploited in the private sector.
For example, the UNITA Alliance offers ‘Tech transfer starting grants’ to support scientific collaborations that could lead to the commercialisation of scientific results, for example through intellectual property and patent filing, etc.
- Disseminating research to civil society and citizens
The Alliance also promotes the dissemination of research results to the general public and socio-economic actors, thus ensuring that scientific discoveries have a tangible impact on society.
Completed key projects
- Re-UNITA (H2020-SWAFS), 2021-2024: three years to co-develop a shared research and innovation agenda, coordinated by UPPA.
- INNO-UNITA (EIT HEI), 2021-2023: strengthening innovation capacities and entrepreneurial spirit within the alliance.
- U*NIGHT (MSCA&CITIZENS), 2021 – 2023: bringing science and citizens closer together.
