Skip to main content
Research and innovation

Join European community of expert facilitators for industry-academia co-creation!

The role of expert facilitators is crucial in making sure that R&I stakeholders work together effectively and drive impactful results from research and innovation. EU.FFICIENT, an EU-funded project is building a European community of expert facilitators, offering training, resources, and networking opportunities to help you enhance your skills and grow your professional profile. 

Join this growing network of expert facilitators from across Europe. Access the tools, training, and connections you need to drive industry-academia co-creation for knowledge valorisation. 

The initiative addresses four thematic areas - Advanced Manufacturing, HealthTech, Mobility, and AI/Digital - to drive innovation in these critical sectors.

What are expert facilitators?

An expert facilitator is someone who has the skills to lead and support collaboration between different stakeholders, whether in industry, academia, public organisations, or beyond. Whether a technology transfer officer, business developer, project manager, or in any role that fosters innovation, they always play a key facilitation role. Here’s where expert facilitators typically make an impact:

  • Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) & Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs): You may be involved as a technology transfer officer, business liaison, or project manager, helping translate research into real-world solutions.
  • Innovation Hubs: If you work at a cluster, science park, or innovation center, you’re helping connect ideas, people, and resources to fuel co-creation.
  • Corporate or Public Sector: In roles such as open innovation managers, you are the bridge between internal teams and external partners, driving collaboration and fresh ideas.

What is co-creation?

Co-creation refers to the collaborative process where academic researchers and industry/public sector professionals work together to develop new knowledge, technologies, products, and services. Its goal is to leverage the complementary strengths of academia and industry/public sector to create value and drive innovation.

Background

EU.FFICIENT is an EU-funded project designed to create, pilot, and validate communities of expert facilitators, transforming co-creation processes across Europe. These communities serve as platforms for industry experts, academics, public sector representatives, and society members to come together, share knowledge, and co-create solutions in various fields.

The EU.FFICIENT project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme under grant agreement No 101135297. The project is coordinated by Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.