The past months have marked an exceptionally dynamic and productive phase for the UR-WISE project, driven by the leadership of Professor Aura Reggiani, ERA Chair holder and Alma Mater Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Bologna. Regarding the work on research excellence and brain circulation, substantial progress has been made across several interconnected activities that will shape the foundation of the project’s long-term research excellence.
A central effort has involved the preparation of the ERA Chair Team formation process, a key structural milestone for UR-WISE. Professor Reggiani has been actively developing the framework for the appointment of the selection committee and announcement of the competition for the ERA Chair Team. The first recruitment cycle will engage three support team members and two researchers, while the second cycle will add three additional research positions and include the appointment of the ERA Team Leader. The rigorous, transparent process will ensure that UR-WISE attracts top talent aligned with its scientific mission.
Parallel to these recruitment efforts, intensive preparations have been underway for establishing a group of networking partners, an ambitious task aimed at embedding FEUN into a global network of research-intensive institutions. This activity is essential for achieving the UR-WISE objective of long-term institutional transformation through knowledge transfer, joint initiatives, and mobility schemes. The team, together with prof. Reggiani is laying the groundwork for cooperation with leading European and international partners who will support the development of spin-off expertise, as well as research institutions that will provide sustained knowledge transfer throughout the project’s implementation.
The UR-WISE team, under the coordination of professor Reggiani, is intensifying a series of productive meetings with representatives of the project’s strategic institutions to explore opportunities for joint future project proposals and collaborative research initiatives, laying the groundwork for long-term cooperation that extends beyond UR-WISE. This proactive engagement strengthens the project’s international visibility and enhances FEUN’s position within global academic and innovation ecosystems.
In addition, UR-WISE has strengthened ties within the national research landscape through continued networking, including exchanges with Professor Pavle Petrović of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, fostering deeper integration with Serbia’s scientific community and supporting the project’s broader mission of institutional capacity building.