NEWS
RUN-EU partners secure €2.7 million for European Skills, Joint Degrees and Regional Innovation
25 September 2026
RUN-EU is strengthening its European impact by turning cross-border collaboration into tangible opportunities for higher education, research and regional development.
Three joint projects involving partners across the alliance have secured €2.7 million in Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe funding, supporting initiatives that address shared European challenges and create lasting value beyond individual institutions.
From enhancing pedagogical innovation and staff wellbeing to advancing European joint degrees and driving research-based regional innovation, these projects show how RUN-EU brings together expertise, strengthens partnerships, and turns collaboration into meaningful progress for students, higher education institutions, businesses, and communities across Europe.
RUN WELL
Strengthening pedagogical competence and staff well-being
Coordinated by the Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), Finland, and funded by Erasmus+, this three-year project has a total budget of €250,000.
RUN WELL · Empowering European Higher Education Teachers/Educators through Innovative Pedagogics and Well-being will develop a training programme to strengthen pedagogical competence and support well-being in higher education.
It involves RUN-EU partners HAMK, the University of Burgos (Spain), and the Technical University of Liberec (Czechia).
The project will equip higher education teachers with practical methods to create learning environments that support student well-being while strengthening their own professional resilience. Its training programme is designed for application across higher education institutions in Europe.
RUN-ED
Advancing European joint degrees
Coordinated by the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Ireland, the Erasmus+ funded project has a total budget of €1 million. The Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) and the University of Leiria and Oeste (ULO), Portugal, are contributing to the alliance’s capacity to deliver joint degrees that meet the European Degree Label criteria.
RUN-ED • Exploring Joint European Degrees in RUN-EU aims to accelerate the development of joint degree programmes and align them with the European Degree Label.
By identifying legislative and administrative barriers and developing shared operating models, the project will support student mobility, strengthen cooperation between higher education institutions and the world of work, and promote European values.
Ultimately, RUN-ED aims to make cross-border higher education cooperation more accessible and effective for students, institutions and employers.
TIDER
Driving regional innovation across Europe
Coordinated by the Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave (UPCA), Portugal, the project brings together partners from Portugal, Ireland and the Netherlands, including HAMK Design Factory, TUS’s FORGE Design Factory and NHL Stenden’s Future Design Factory.
TIDER • Interoperable Design Framework for Territorial Regeneration has secured nearly €1.5 million from Horizon Europe to support regional development, research-based innovation, and cross-sector collaboration.
TIDER will develop and test practical approaches to territorial regeneration, with pilots focusing particularly on the textile, fashion, cultural and audiovisual sectors. These experimental environments will enable teams to test and refine innovative solutions in real-life conditions before wider implementation.
The project will also promote a diverse, equitable and accessible research culture, helping ensure that research outcomes can be effectively applied in society and business.
Building a stronger European innovation ecosystem
Together, these three projects demonstrate the value and impact of collaboration across RUN-EU, bringing together higher education institutions from different European countries to address shared challenges and develop solutions that benefit far more than individual institutions.
By combining expertise, resources and perspectives across borders, RUN-EU partners are creating new opportunities to improve teaching and learning, strengthen cooperation in European higher education, and translate research and innovation into practical outcomes for businesses, regional ecosystems and communities.
These initiatives also reflect RUN-EU’s broader ambition to build a more connected European higher education and innovation ecosystem, where universities work closely together and with regional stakeholders to respond to emerging needs and contribute to sustainable development.
From empowering educators and supporting student mobility to testing innovative approaches to regional regeneration, the projects show how European cooperation can drive meaningful change at institutional, regional, and international levels.
The three funding successes further strengthen RUN-EU’s capacity to develop and implement joint initiatives, expand its European networks and create new opportunities for collaboration.
Beyond these projects, RUN-EU partners are actively involved in additional research and development initiatives across a range of fields, reinforcing the alliance’s role as a platform for knowledge exchange, innovation and cross-border cooperation. Through these collective efforts, RUN-EU continues to turn its shared vision into concrete action, contributing to the development of a more innovative, inclusive and resilient Europe.