WISE

WISE — From WIdening to urban Sustainability innovation and Excellence

Programme: Horizon Europe
Project Number: 101311025 HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-01-ACCESS-01 (CSA)
Project Duration: 48 months (September 2026 – August 2030)
Total Project Budget: €4,984,935
Project Coordinator: University of Primorska (Slovenia)

Project Objective

The WISE project aims to reduce disparities in research capacity among European universities and strengthen joint research and innovation excellence through institutional transformation, international collaboration, and capacity building.

The project builds on the strategic framework of the Transform4Europe University Alliance and supports deeper integration of research and innovation activities among European higher education institutions.

WISE focuses on urban sustainability as one of the key development priorities of the European Union. Within the project, a joint research and innovation platform will be established to support collaborative research, pilot projects, and innovative solutions for the sustainable development of cities.

The project team aims at modernising research management and administration systems, strengthening international scientific cooperation, enhancing the competences of researchers and professional staff, promoting Open Science, gender equality, inclusion, and increasing the societal impact of research.

A special focus of the project is research career development. In cooperation with the New European Bauhaus Academy, a Skills Academy will be established, delivering 39 specialised training modules and 16 international mobility programmes for researchers and professional staff.

The project will support the professional development of more than 900 researchers, research managers, and university staff, strengthening the research capacity of participating institutions. Its broad geographical scope and cross-sectoral cooperation model create an integrated ecosystem for advancing research, innovation, and sustainable urban solutions across Europe.

MSU’s Role

Mariupol State University contributes to the implementation of institutional reforms, the development of governance and strategic planning systems, preparation of analytical materials and recommendations, development of educational programmes, capacity-building activities, international research cooperation, communication, and dissemination of project results.

MSU’s particular contribution lies in its expertise in institutional resilience, governance under conditions of forced displacement, crisis management, and post-conflict recovery. The university’s experience provides an important practical perspective for strengthening resilience-oriented models of university governance across Europe.

Expected Impact

WISE aims to create a sustainable model of research excellence and innovation that will continue beyond the project’s funding period. By strengthening institutional capacities, expanding international cooperation, supporting researchers’ career development, and fostering cross-sectoral collaboration, the project will contribute to building more resilient, competitive, and globally connected universities.

Project Partners

University of Primorska (Slovenia)
Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Portugal)
University of Silesia in Katowice (Poland)
Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania)
Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski (Bulgaria)
Estonian Academy of Arts (Estonia)
Mariupol State University (Ukraine)
Saarland University (Germany)
University of Alicante (Spain)
University of Trieste (Italy)
Jean Monnet University (France)
Regional Development Agency of the Ljubljana Urban Region (Slovenia)
the City of Saarlouis (Germany)
iQwood d.o.o. (Slovenia)
AISPECO (Lithuania)
Innovawood (Belgium)

It combines seven universities from widening countries, four universities from advanced research ecosystems, and five non-academic partners representing industry, public authorities, and civil society.

Project Coordinator at Mariupol State University
Anna Chechel
[email protected]

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