When the INVEST Alliance was renewed in 2023, our shared vision was to position our 7 universities as catalysts for regional transformation, not only through education this time, but by integrating research and innovation. The INVEST Centre of Excellence in research, development and innovation is the concrete expression of that vision: it consists of a network of researchers, united to support joint research initiatives that strengthen both regional development and European competitiveness, by upskilling our local population through research-based education. It is the bridge that connects knowledge creation with societal needs, linking our research communities with our seven respective territories. It embodies the Work Package 6’s key objectives:

• Build a Joint Collaborative Excellence Research to answer regional sustainability issues
• Foster an “Innovation philosophy”, building inclusive, strong and lasting partnerships with governance, business and users
• Create Networks within INVEST to connect communities and infrastructures and beyond towards specialised circles

(For more information on the INVEST alliance objectives, you can visit the alliance's website)

The INVEST Centre of Excellence is structured around 3 axis:

• Enable collaborative, interdisciplinary and responsible research for a self-reinforcing ecosystem
• Position the INVEST CoE as a strategic, forward-looking and enduring flagship initiative in the European landscape
• Anchor research in territorial realities to deliver tangible and innovation-led impact