Where education, business and research work together to make progress
Rethinking education, overcoming barriers, shaping innovation: Erasmus+ Alliances for Innovation bring together education institutions of all types, companies, and other stakeholders from business and society to address today's challenges together.
Complex, global problems require holistic solutions. This can best be achieved by involving a range of stakeholders and interest groups. The Alliances for Innovation therefore aim to engage diverse organisations to develop educational formats in which participants learn inter- and transdisciplinary approaches in order to devise the best possible solutions to these challenges. Potential partner institutions include various types of education and vocational training organisations, such as schools, higher education institutions and vocational training centres, as well as public authorities, associations and companies active in the education sector. These partners should come from different countries to enable genuine transnational cooperation.
What is an Erasmus+ Alliance for Innovation (KA234)?
Erasmus+ Alliances for Innovation promote strategic cooperation between stakeholders in higher education and vocational education and training, together with representatives from business and society. They cover various topics on which interested parties can submit projects. The three- to four-year projects involve at least eight to twelve partner institutions from four to eight different Erasmus+ countries and are funded with between one million and four million euros.
How do they differ from an Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership (KA220)?
Unlike the smaller Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnerships, Alliances for Innovation are medium-sized, centrally managed cooperation formats. This means that the project grants awarded and the requirements for project outcomes are correspondingly higher. The application is not submitted to the Erasmus+ National Agency of the coordinating higher education institution (e.g. Movetia), but directly to the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) via the «Funding and Tenders Operations Portal».
How can Swiss institutions take part?
Until 2024, Swiss institutions were able to participate as full partners in Alliances for Innovation and Cooperation Partnerships. This would only be possible again if Switzerland were to join the Erasmus+ programme. In particular, Swiss institutions would then also be able to initiate projects as so-called coordinators, raise funds and manage them. Association would also mean that Swiss institutions would no longer be subject to any of the restrictions introduced since 2024 for third countries not associated to the programme, such as the rule that Erasmus+ funding may not be used for activities outside countries associated to the programme.
You can find the latest developments regarding Erasmus+ in Switzerland here.
One example of such an Alliance for Innovation involving Swiss participation is the NEST project. NEST has set itself the goal of tackling the global problem of ever-rising healthcare costs – one of the key challenges of our time. To this end, a consortium comprising four universities, three SMEs, a research centre, a vocational training provider and a health and care organisation was formed. Together, they have initiated various pilot projects, known as innovation ecosystems. The University of Zurich played a key role in one of these pilot projects – or ecosystems – focusing on mould in homes. The Citizen Science Center Zurich, led by Director of Research Maria Rosa Mondardini, analysed how the emerging approach of citizen science can be used to tackle the problem of mould in homes. This approach is to be integrated not only into health research but also into relevant university teaching, in order to generate a multiplier effect and thereby contribute to reducing healthcare costs in the future.
What is citizen science?
Citizen science refers to the active participation of citizens in scientific projects. For example, they contribute to data collection, data analysis or the development of research questions, working alongside researchers at universities to generate new knowledge.
The involvement of citizens in research and practice has so far only been taught sporadically at universities.
After Mondardini and colleagues concluded, following a comparative analysis, that involving citizens held promise for resolving the problem, they brought their relevant expertise to the project. «Our main recommendation was to make sure residents would play a central role throughout the process. By collecting mould samples from their homes, they would not only produce valuable scientific data but also ensure that the research reflects real-life housing conditions and community concerns», says Mondardini.
For the project, the collaboration between the various stakeholders is absolutely crucial, which is a prime example of Alliances for Innovation. Whilst residents provide data from their own homes, charitable organisations ensure trust and that local needs are taken into account, and researchers, in turn, contribute the necessary expertise. According to Mondardini, this participatory approach builds a bridge between the community, scientific findings and, ultimately, politicians, as the issues and problems are addressed holistically.
Involving different stakeholders was essential because no single group could address the mould problem on its own.
Project overview
Title: NEST – Co-Creating a New Form of Governance in Societal Transition for Healthy Living
Duration: 2023–2026
Institutions: Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen – Netherlands (co-ordinator) // Artevelde University of Applied Sciences – Belgium // Metropolia University of Applied Sciences – Finland // Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB) – Portugal // University of Zurich (Citizen Science Center) – Switzerland // Alfa College – Netherlands // Stichting De Hoven – Netherlands // THRIVE Institute BV – Netherlands // SPIN Sport Innovation GmbH & Co. KG – Germany // Demola Global Oy – Finland
Erasmus+ priorities addressed:
- Inclusion and diversity
- Digital transformation
- Environment and combating climate change
- Participation in democratic life, shared values and civic engagement
NEST project activities
- Establishment of four international «Communities of Practice» (CoPs) on:
- Development of social enterprises
- Citizen science
- Reflective monitoring
- Knowledge generation
- Piloting local innovation ecosystems for healthy living, involving citizens, educational institutions, businesses and public sector stakeholders.
- Development of education and training programmes, including learning modules, digital learning resources and tools to promote innovation and transformation skills.
- Citizen science activities in which citizens are actively involved in knowledge generation and solution development.
- Knowledge exchange and capacity building through international events, webinars, workshops and learning communities.
- Development of a governance and implementation model for sustainable social innovation ecosystems in the division of healthy living.
- Creation of open educational resources and practical tools, e.g. webinars, handbooks, methodologies and Knowledge Radar tools for stakeholders in the health and education sectors.
From the project to the sustainable development of Swiss educational institutions
As already mentioned, the aim of the Alliances for Innovation is not merely to carry out a research component. Central to the project is the implementation of innovations in the curriculum and the introduction of new teaching methods at the participating educational institutions, based on the findings from the project. In a broader context, the initiative aims to bring about sustainable change in education, the economy and society through cross-sectoral collaboration, thereby strengthening Europe’s capacity for innovation and transformation in the long term.
A curriculum should emphasize real-world problem solving, stakeholder collaboration, and the ability to connect research with societal needs. In terms of teaching methods, the project demonstrates the benefits of experiential and challenge-based learning, based on authentic problems and with the potential to contribute to projects with tangible social impact.
At an institutional level, an Alliance for Innovation therefore not only provides funding for a time-limited project, but also enables the further development of educational provision, the expansion of international networks, the strengthening of practical relevance, and the opportunity to position oneself as an innovative player in the European education landscape.
