This action follows Council Conclusions on the European strategy empowering higher education institutions for the future of Europe of 5 April 2022 and ERA action 13 of the ERA Policy Agenda (annexed to the Council Conclusions on the future governance of the ERA, 26 November 2021) on empowering higher education institutions to develop in line with the European Research Area, in synergy with the European Education Area. The action also contributes to implementation of the Council Conclusions on strengthening research careers (28 May 2021). The objectives of this action are to:

• Raise excellence in science and in value creation through deeper and geographically inclusive cooperation in alliances of higher education institutions, such as – but not limited to – European Universities alliances selected under Erasmus+, with a particular focus on Widening countries;
• Improve global competitiveness and visibility of Europe's higher education institutions, creating critical mass in key areas such as the green transition and Horizon Europe mission areas.

Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

• Successful institutional reform and upgrade of higher education institutions in the R&I dimension (empowerment to be actors of change), through integrated collaboration between institutions and with other actors in local ecosystems;
• Mainstreamed culture of excellence in science and value creation amongst higher education institutions, and particularly in less research-intensive institutions and countries, in particular Widening countries, through consolidation of geographically inclusive alliances of higher education institutions, achieving long-term collaboration;
• Contribution to accelerated institutional reform in R&I dimension and strengthened R&I capacities in higher education institutions, notably those located in Widening countries, in particular;
  • Modernised research careers in higher education sector, interoperable with other sectors;
  • Accelerated digital transition of the R&I dimension of the higher education sector across the entire ERA;
• Increased global competitiveness of research in higher education institutions by strongly increased critical mass in terms of upskilling, knowledge creation and knowledge circulation in the green transition and other key European policy areas such as European Missions;
• Contribution to implementation of the relevant ERA Policy Agenda actions in higher education sector.

The European Excellence Initiative in its widening dimension aims to raise excellence in science and in knowledge valorisation of Europe’s universities through cooperation. The action will engage with universities and empower them further to be actors of change in R&I.

Through the geographically inclusive cooperation and practice exchange, universities from different capacities would benefit from institutional changes. This would increase attractiveness and accelerate access to excellence.

By developing closer cooperation with economic and industrial partners within local and regional innovation ecosystems, academic researchers and support staff will be provided the opportunity to be trained in knowledge valorisation, entrepreneurship, access to finance, at any stage of their careers, and to take into account the variety of academics’ activities in their career assessment.

Cooperation of universities will be supported to create critical R&I mass and pursue specific objectives that contribute to accelerating key R&I areas of own choice, for instance, one or more Mission areas. The European Excellence Initiative in its widening dimension is open to any network or alliance of higher education institutions, such as – but not limited to – European Universities alliances selected under Erasmus+, and allows for variable geometries (where for instances universities participating in alliances for specific themes may team up with other partners to pursue other specific themes or objectives). Under this call the centre of gravity of the action must be in Widening countries. Applicants have to convincingly demonstrate this geographical focus, for instance, by a budget allocation of at least 70% to participants from Widening countries.

Projects should contribute to the implementation of ERA Policy Agenda priorities at the participating higher education institutions, notably the strengthening of research careers in academia and beyond. Projects should pursue the following objectives:

• Achieving more balanced circulation of talents;
• Reinforcing the role of higher education institutions in innovation ecosystems;
• Mainstreaming practices and tools for open sharing of knowledge and data;
• Advancements towards reform of the assessment system for research, including career assessment;
• Improved links between science and business;
• Promoted gender equality, diversity and fostering inclusiveness through e.g., inclusive gender equality plans and policies;
• The acceleration of society’s green and digital transition to support ERA Policy Agenda action 11;
• Integrated international cooperation with entities established in third countries to support ERA Policy Agenda action 9.

Applicants are encouraged to implement the aforementioned European Research Area policy objectives and to consolidate institutional changes by means of a coherent package of activities which could include the following:

• Sharing R&I capacities including infrastructures;
• Developing joint interdisciplinary R&I agendas;
• Outreach to and inspiring local/regional innovation ecosystems;
• Strengthening research careers and interdisciplinary upskilling;
• Reforming research assessment;
• Digitisation of institutions and partners;
• Engaging with citizens, cities, regions and other non-academic actors;
• Training and capacity building for research and innovation management including IPR;
• Exchange of academic and non-academic staff for sharing good practices;
• Global outreach and internationalisation;
• Consolidation of cooperation with partners outside EU Member States and Associated Countries.

Expenditures for research and innovation activities (such as seed funding for collaborative research projects, activities linked to joint doctoral and postdoctoral research, knowledge valorisation activities, etc.) cannot exceed a maximum of 20% of the total budget.

The actions should envisage a duration appropriate to the ambition and complexity of the alliance of higher education institutions. The duration should not exceed 5 years.