• Aleid Brouwer, from the University of Groningen, delivered a keynote for the Social Innovation EIH, introducing the concept of Broad Prosperity – a framework that moves beyond GDP to assess regional wellbeing. Her presentation highlighted the importance of measuring success through inclusive and sustainable indicators.
  
  
• José Carlos Caldeira, from the INESC TEC, presented under the Future and Sustainable Industries EIH, focusing on the role of innovation and sustainability in transforming European industrial sectors and fostering resilient economies.
  
  
• Gavin Moroney, from the Irish Bioeconomy Foundation, represented the Bioeconomy EIH with his keynote titled Growing the European Bioeconomy Together, emphasising collaborative strategies to build a sustainable bio-based economy across Europe.

• Ricardo Simões, Head of Innovation at the Norte Portugal Regional Coordination and Development Commission, explored the Norte Portugal Innovation Ecosystem and outlined interregional funding opportunities that support cross-border innovation and development.
  
  
• Joana Resende, Vice Rector at the University of Porto, delivered a keynote titled Boost European Union and Innovation: The Impact of University Alliances. She underlined how collaborative alliances like RUN-EU play a crucial role in enhancing European innovation capacity and building stronger connections between education, research, and regional impact. She also explored the transformative potential of alliances such as RUN-EU and emphasised the importance of building future collaborations to respond to societal and regional challenges.

Another key highlight of the ICARUS Conference was the round table discussion on Cross-Disciplinary Research in the Construction of Disruptive Ecosystems of Innovation. The session brought together experts from across the RUN-EU alliance to explore how collaboration across academic fields and institutions can drive transformative change in innovation systems.

Panellists included:

• Ellen de Bruin, NHL Stenden, The Netherlands.
• Liam Brown, TUS, Ireland.
• João L. Vilaça, IPCA, Portugal.
• Markus Preissinger, FHV, Austria.
• Caroline Van Keymeulen, Howest, Belgium.

The discussion was moderated by Lisa Moran from TUS, who guided the conversation through topics such as interdisciplinary collaboration, institutional culture, innovation policy, and the role of universities in shaping future-oriented ecosystems.

The round table underscored the importance of integrating diverse perspectives and expertise to develop innovative solutions that respond to complex regional and global challenges. The group agreed that combining different skills and knowledge leads to stronger innovation and better results.

On day 2 of the ICARUS Conference, speakers from various RUN-EU International Research Groups delivered short, insightful talks showcasing the focus and progress of their thematic areas:

Tourism

Alexandra Malheiro, Dean of the School of Hospitality & Tourism at IPCA, shared recent developments and research priorities within the RUN-EU Tourism Research Group.

Social Innovation and WorkEd

Liisa Postareff, Director of the Unit for Research and Development of Higher Education Pedagogy at HAMK, discussed interdisciplinary efforts to enhance social innovation and work-based learning across the RUN-EU network.

IoT & Cyber Security

Michael Winterburn, Coordinator of the RUN-EU and Cyber Security Research Group from the TUS, presented ongoing collaborative work and emerging challenges in this rapidly evolving field.

SmartBio & BioHub

Annukka Pakarinen, Research Director at HAMK, highlighted the group’s progress in advancing bio-based innovation and sustainability through smart biotechnology research.

The RUN-EU TECH Pitches session was one of the most dynamic aspects of the conference. Students and staff from partner universities delivered short, focused presentations on their research. It was a wonderful opportunity to share ideas, showcase innovation, and celebrate collaborative, student-led projects across the RUN-EU alliance. Covering a wide range of topics, the session highlighted the creativity and research strengths of RUN-EU member institutions, with contributions from the following speakers:

• Sagrario Beltrán, Maria Teresa Sanz, and Eduardo Bayona (UBU)
• Hugo Costelha and Rui Ruben (IPLeiria)
• Marika Tossavainen and Jarmo Havula (HAMK)
• Eva Zschieschang and Anna-Maria Baronenkova (FHV)
• Corinne Van Noordenne and Jacqueline Berghout (NHL Stenden)
  
• Joaquin Dillen and Pedro Morais (IPCA)
  
• Kenny O’Brien, Anthony Cunningham, and David Downey (TUS)
  
• Cesar De Greve and Shane Deconinck – online (Howest)

These energetic sessions demonstrated the real-world relevance and high quality of applied research emerging from within the RUN-EU alliance.

The ICARUS Conference concluded with closing reflections from Ruaidhri Neavyn, RUN-EU CEO; João L. Vilaça, Vice President of IPCA; and Lisa Moran, Dean of Graduate Studies and RUN-IRI Lead at TUS.

In their closing remarks, the speakers reflected on broader, thought-provoking discussions that emerged throughout the conference, including the reconstitution and evolving role of RUN-EU, the changing geopolitical landscape, and the shifting context of higher education both nationally and across Europe. These themes underscore the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and strategic foresight as the RUN-EU alliance continues to shape the future of regional innovation and academic excellence.

They reaffirmed the alliance’s strong commitment to deepening the connection between higher education institutions and regional innovation ecosystems, highlighting the collaborative spirit and shared vision that defined the entire conference.

Over two days, the 4^th Annual International Conference on Applied Research with Business and Society (ICARUS) provided students, researchers, and stakeholders with a valuable platform to connect research with real-world challenges. Special sessions were dedicated to supporting students in Professional Practice-Based Research programmes, helping them align their academic work with the needs of industry and communities. The conference fostered meaningful exchanges of ideas and collaboration, strengthening the impact of practice-based research across the RUN-EU alliance.

The conference was structured around the ICARUS acronym (Innovation, Collaboration, Applied Research, Regional Impact, University-Society Engagement, and Sustainability) – reflecting its ongoing focus on Innovation, Collaboration, Applied Research, and University–Society impact, as in previous years.

The event also created many opportunities for networking and collaboration, allowing participants to build new connections and explore partnerships across institutions, regions, and sectors.

The event also created many opportunities for networking and collaboration, allowing participants to build new connections and explore partnerships across institutions, regions, and sectors.

In summary, the ICARUS Conference 2025 brought together 300 participants from across Europe to exchange knowledge, build partnerships, and spark innovative ideas, highlighting the strength of collaboration between universities, regional communities, and society.

ICARUS formed part of the 2025 Economy Weeks, which included the Business Exhibition featuring 93 organisations, including companies, R&D centres, educational institutions, and regional development bodies.

Across 14 sessions, themes such as innovation, talent, and employment were explored. Alongside the Qualifica-te Braga 2025 initiative and associated economic promotion activities, the event attracted over 5,300 visitors and participants.