Launch of the INVEST Centre of Excellence: a new European engine for sustainable research
On November 5, 2025, the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA) will host the official launch of the INVEST Centre of Excellence for Research, Development and Innovation.
This event marks a decisive milestone for the European University Alliance INVEST (INnoVations of rEgional SustainabiliTy) and its strong commitment to research serving local communities and sustainable development.
What is a Centre of Excellence?
The INVEST Centre of Excellence is a network of researchers and a collaborative platform connecting universities, businesses, public authorities, and civil society across partner regions. Its purpose is to work together on major societal challenges.
The goal: to foster ambitious research projects, share knowledge, and transform scientific discoveries into concrete solutions for citizens and regions.
It is a community of experts that brings together multiple disciplines, from biology to economics, energy to education, in order to build a more sustainable, inclusive, and innovative future.
The Centre of Excellence is structured around seven research clusters:
- Smart sustainable agriculture
- Green energy and energy transition
- Water resources management
- Education and capacity building
- Urban–rural relationship
- Circular and bio-based economy
- New business models and smart technologies
To date, 180 researchers from the seven partner universities have joined these thematic clusters, reflecting an already dynamic and growing European collaboration.
A day to put a shared vision into action
Organised by URCA, the coordinator of the INVEST Centre of Excellence, the launch day on November 5 will take place between Reims City Hall and the Croix-Rouge campus.
The event will bring together political representatives, researchers, students, and socio-economic stakeholders from across Europe.
Program highlights:
- A political roundtable on the role of European universities in the sustainable transformation of regions.
- The signature of the Centre’s statutes by the presidents of the seven universities, and a joint letter of intent by municipal representatives of the alliance.
- The opening of the Centre of Excellence Village, where the public will discover the research clusters, URCA’s projects, and key regional innovation stakeholders.
- A pitching session and a roundtable titled “From laboratory to territory”, showcasing the direct impact of research on society.
Research serving regions and citizens
More than a simple inauguration, this launch symbolizes the creation of a shared structure for innovation and European cooperation.
The INVEST Centre of Excellence aims to advance knowledge, promote sustainability, and strengthen regional connections, enabling academic research to better meet territorial needs.
Supported by the European Union and the French National Research Agency (ANR) under the France 2030 initiative, the Centre seeks to make the INVEST regions key pillars of European research in sustainability, science, economy, and territorial development.
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Reims City Hall & Croix-Rouge Campus - University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne
Contact: invest@univ-reims.fr
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