Unite! looks to the future
The European University Alliance Unite!, of which Politecnico has been a member since its inception, has worked over the past six years to develop joint research programs among the nine universities involved, an international educational offering, and a truly common European space for academic training. The Alliance is looking towards the future: defining the new 2035 mission of the Alliance and preparing the bridge funding proposal for the two-year period 2026-2028, which should manage the transition of Unite! from the current to the next Framework Program. These were the key topics of the workshop held on January 12 at the Frankfurt Airport conference center between the Presidents and Rectors of the partner institutions, followed by the meeting of the Unite! Governing Platform. Members of the Unite! Steering Committee were also invited to participate in both events.
The mission statement highlighted the importance of better emphasizing the fundamental role that Unite! can play in the field of STEM disciplines, as well as the contribution it could make to the competitiveness of the European Union, a core issue in the Draghi report, which will soon be the subject of a plenary session at the upcoming Unite! Dialogue at Politecnico, on the afternoon of February 11, 2026, to be introduced by Manuel Heitor of the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon.
The general structure of the bridge funding proposal was then discussed, which will see Politecnico co-leading the WP focused on PhDs and synergies with the European Research Area. Politecnico is also a candidate to co-lead the WP focused on Innovation Ecosystems. These topics were also discussed by the Steering Committee following the Unite! Government Platform meeting and continued the following day at TU Darmstadt.
The future of seed funding opportunities and the redefinition of the responsibilities of the Academic Forum were also discussed as part of the Government Platform's work. Politecnico additionaly presented the recently released EIT HEI call, in which Unite! will actively participate.
Rector Stefano Corgnati stated: "Politecnico's participation to Unite!, one of the first European University Alliances, is a clear sign of our role and willingness to actively participate in shaping the future of universities. The Rectors' Workshop and the Unite! Governing Platform marked a milestone in defining the Erasmus+ “bridge funding” proposal for 2026-2028 and updating the Alliance's vision for 2035. The discussion covered key issues such as the construction of a widespread and integrated European Campus of Technological Universities, with the development of joint and innovative educational programs, more flexible and inclusive learning paths, and increasingly solid transnational cooperation on research and innovation. The priorities that emerged concern the expansion of joint educational programs, the facilitation of mobility for students and young researchers, and the strengthening of dialogue with industry, with a common perspective of competitiveness, innovation, and long-term sustainability."
Professor Roberto Zanino, Politecnico's Unite! Key Liaison Officer, said: "Many things are happening at Unite! right now, all at the same time, with a workload, but also a truly significant stimulus for our University. The bridge funding call covers the next two years, but projects us towards the new Framework Program 2028-2034. The Alliances' prospects appear to be favorable across all of the University's missions. The EIT HEI call offers a significant opportunity within Horizon Europe, specifically designed for the Alliances, to institutionalize relationships and align missions with two to three KICs of our choice. Unite!'s new mission will therefore look to both the short and medium term. We are therefore particularly pleased to welcome the entire Unite! community to Turin in a few weeks, at such a crucial moment in its history."