Mountains cover 30% of the land area and are home to 17% of the EU´s population, meaning that every 6th EU citizen lives in mountainous areas. While we often associate mountains with breathtaking landscapes that offer perfect sites for relaxation, in truth, mountains are much more than that. In fact, mountains play a crucial role in our daily lives by providing vital resources and key community systems to the global population. Mountains like other areas face unprecedented challenges in terms of climate change (CC), however mountain ecosystems are more sensitive to CC. The harmful conditions provoked by CC are exacerbated by the significant deficits in adaptation responses mountainous areas have, stemming from several existing gaps, including shortcomings in CCA options, deficits in the uptake and the lack of coherence. MountResilience has been formulated to increase the adaptation capacity of mountainous regions and communities so as to strengthen climate resilience within the European mountainous biogeographical region (Alpine biogeographical region). The project aims to accelerate the climate resilient transformation of 10 of the most relevant communities and regions located in the mountains in 9 European countries. 6 of the regions will develop and test transformative CCA solutions (technological and social innovations with nature-based solutions at their core). These solutions will address policy, governance, societal needs and behaviours, technological requirements, public and financing targets, and CC risks typical of mountainous areas. Regional quadruple-helix partnerships will use open innovation, participatory decision-making, stakeholder engagement approaches, and effective communication to mobilise, engage, and reach out to key communities. The remaining 4 regions will serve as "replicator" regions, repurposing CCA solutions and lessons learned from the demo regions in their regions through special initiatives to improve their adaptive capacity.

The BOOST project addresses the significant disparities in innovation capacity among the EU Widening Countries, primarily in Eastern Europe. Although these nations excel in academic research, they struggle to translate their achievements into commercially viable products and services. This gap negatively affects the social, financial, and environmental sustainability of these regions, limits economic growth, and exacerbates issues like brain drain and low career opportunities for researchers and innovators. BOOST aims to strengthen the R&I capabilities of Widening Countries by fostering collaboration between academic and non-academic sectors. It focuses on enhancing career opportunities and entrepreneurship by providing researchers with the skills needed to succeed in both academic and industrial settings. A key element is the creation of the BOOST Learning Environment, which will facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration among organizations across Europe, giving access to a rich database of tools, resources, and learning modules. Central to the project is the implementation of the BOOST ERA Talents Scheme, which provides 12-month mobility opportunities for 60 researchers, improving their practical skills through placements in industry settings. The scheme also includes five tailored learning modules, and each participant will receive a Personal Career Development Plan to support long-term career advancement. The project ensures that at least 30% of mobility participants will be women or individuals from underrepresented groups, addressing the imbalance that persists in R&I fields. BOOST provides broad sectoral expertise through its consortium partners. By focusing on skill development, practical training, and cross-sector collaboration, the project will create a sustainable impact that extends beyond its duration, helping Widening Countries improve their R&I capabilities and compete on the global stage.

SPARKUP proposal is motivated by the pressing need to address the increasing risks posed by CBRNE threats, particularly in the Southern CEE region. This region faces unique challenges due to its proximity to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and other geopolitical instabilities. The urgency to strengthen the region's preparedness and response capabilities is paramount, necessitating a robust approach to research and innovation in the field. SPARKUP seeks to bridge gaps in the European Research Area (ERA) by enhancing the interoperability of careers across academic and non-academic sectors, thereby improving the employability of R&I talents. By fostering greater collaboration and knowledge exchange SPARKUP aims to create a more dynamic and integrated research ecosystem. By enhancing career prospects SPARKUP not only contributes to the retention of top talents within Europe but also ensures that researchers are better equipped to address the complex challenges posed by CBRNE threats. The project aims to deliver a strategy that includes a targeted upskilling programme designed to equip researchers and innovators with the necessary skills to excel in their careers. This approach not only boosts employability but also ensures that the next generation of CBRNE experts is capable of responding effectively to the specific risks faced by the Southern CEE region. The project is structured around three main pillars: (1) Comprehensive talent development and circulation activities will be launched to swiftly force collaborations of academic and non-academic sector. (2) The project will establish the groundwork for sustainable talent management and R&I capabilities within the region's leading CBRNE academies through organized knowledge transfers and shared infrastructure. (3) A Center of Excellence will be established at UCPS, positioning it as a flagship institution in the Southern CEE region for talent development, R&I support, and cross-sectoral knowledge exchange.

This project is a preparatory action for creating innovation procurement policies and instruments that can be effective and sustainable at regional level, but also relevant at European level. The preparatory work will be achieved by using four European regions that cover the full range of innovation performances defined by the EC’s Regional Innovation Scoreboard as development sites: Murcia (ES), Skåne (SE), Bucharest-Ilfov (RO) and Oulu (FI). During the project, the project consortium will: 1. Gather information from i) regional public bodies in charge of innovation policies and funding instruments, and ii) innovation ecosystem players, which propose and execute projects, using state of the art learnings and best practices. 2. Analyse this information to produce a Joint Programme and four regional Action Plans to incorporate innovation procurement to each region’s policy and increase its impact by leveraging EU initiatives and funding. The PREPARE consortium will produce and widely disseminate added-value results, including a knowledge asset on the state of the art of innovation procurement and policy recommendations. Exploitation initiatives will deliver capacity building, policy promotion at EU, national and regional level and the engagement of a network of EU regions interested in leveraging public procurement instruments to foster impactful innovation.

ARCOE aims to create a virtual talent innovation ecosystem hub to improve HR practices, career development and research collaboration. First, an in-depth organisational assessment will be conducted, including an analysis in the Widera countries, to assess career development frameworks, HR practices and alignment with the Research Charter. A gap analysis will then be performed to identify areas requiring improvement. The hub will assist researchers in their professional development by acting as a centralised place for networking, training and career development. Training programmes and career services focusing on digital transformation, deep tech industries and the Green Deal will be created through the hub. The project will assist 15 participating organisations in applying for HRS4R, ensuring compliance with strict guidelines for the recruitment of researchers. In addition, emphasis will be placed on networking and collaboration between the academic and non-academic sectors through the Meet&Match system in the ecosystem hub, to enhance alliances and encourage researcher mobility. As for the Virtual Hub, a long-term business plan will be created to ensure its viability even after the project has ended. In addition, ARCOE will implement a comprehensive communication and distribution plan to ensure maximum impact and reach. To maximise the project's influence and promote international cooperation, synergies with other projects and programmes will be explored. In conclusion, ARCOE is dedicated to fostering talent ecosystems that create attractive and sustainable initial research careers. Through this initiative, we aim to improve mobility, collaboration and career opportunities in all areas, to empower the next generation of researchers and strengthen the European research and innovation landscape.