Objectives and methodology

COOPERATE’s overall objective is to develop and pilot the ERA-Hub concept, based on the vision and success stories developed within the EuroTech Universities Alliance and their R&I ecosystems. The overall approach revolves around co-creation arenas in which ecosystems and their broader community of quadruple helix actors can interact. The piloting phases of the project’s implementation are expected to test the approach and pave the way for its consolidation and replication phase.

This project is shaped along the policy documents and guidelines concerning the European Research Area, Responsible Research and Innovation and National and Regional R&I policies, European Industrial Strategy, European Green Deal and 2030 Digital Compass to name a few. Our value creating approach within the proposed ERA-Hub framework model is conceived to benefit the policy priorities, exploiting synergies and avoiding conflicts while guaranteeing a close coordination between the regional, national and European levels, supporting long-term stability and sustainability and moving away from the more biased short-term policy perspective.

Supporting ecosystem development across Europe

At the heart of COOPERATE lies the ambition to strengthen regional Research and Innovation (R&I) ecosystems and supporting their evolution into ERA Hubs. The project provides practical guidance and tools to help ecosystems understand their current situation, identify opportunities for growth, and implement targeted actions for long-term impact.

The COOPERATE Self-Assessment Tool is an online digital resource designed to help ecosystems evaluate their level of maturity across seven key Lines of Action: Research, Talent, Knowledge Transfer, Funding, Collaboration, Governance and Innovation. Through a structured questionnaire, the tool provides insights into how ecosystems function, collaborate and align with ERA priorities. The outcome, a maturity score, provides an insightful foundation for dialogue, shared learning and strategic development.

Complementing the Self-Assessment Tool is the COOPERATE Toolbox, offering a collection of practical instruments to support ecosystem development within each of the seven Lines of Action. Each tool includes a concise description, along with information on its value, expected outcomes, prerequisites, potential challenges and implementation steps. Together, these resources form a support framework for regions and stakeholders aiming to strengthen collaboration, innovation capacity and ecosystem maturity.

Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdEKvHc0YL4 to watch the COOPERATE project video

Consortium Partners