The University of Milano-Bicocca took part, last 5 November, in the official launch of the INVEST Centre of Excellence for Research, Development and Innovation, hosted by the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne within the framework of the European University Alliance INVEST. The event represents a major milestone in the alliance’s commitment to interdisciplinary research and innovation for sustainable regional development under Work Package 6. The launch took place during the biannual INVEST Rectors’ Assembly and in-person project management meetings.
The inauguration ceremony took place at Reims City Hall with opening speeches by Patricia Durin (Greater Reims Urban Community), Klaudia Halásová (Rector, Slovak University of Agriculture), and Christophe Clément (Rector, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne). This was followed by a high-level roundtable “Advancing knowledge, driving sustainability, bridging regions” bringing together alliance representatives and local authorities to discuss the strategic role of the Centre of Excellence in strengthening European cooperation.
UNIMIB was represented by Prof. Gabriella Pasi (local coordinator and institutional delegate) together with the Cluster 7 representatives Prof. Salvatore Torrisi and Prof. Barbara Del Bosco, Principal Investigator of the cluster New Business Models & Smart Technologies. They contribute to the alliance’s research activities within WP6. Prof. Torrisi also participated in the expert panel “From Lab to Land: Driving Regional Impact Through Research” as scientific coordinator of the MUSA partnership, sharing examples of collaboration between academia and regional stakeholders in Lombardy.
A key moment of the event was the signing of a letter of intent by regional representatives from France, Finland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Spain, expressing their support for the Centre’s mission and their commitment to enhancing interregional cooperation. In addition, the rectors of the INVEST universities formally signed the statutes of the Centre of Excellence, approved during the rectors’ assembly held the previous day, officially establishing the CoE.
In the afternoon, the Centre of Excellence Village showcased the regional research and innovation ecosystem, featuring incubators, technology transfer offices, research support units, and innovation hubs such as InnoRem, EXEBIO, One Bioeconomy, CréativLabz, and SATT Nord. A parallel pitching session highlighted projects and initiatives from the alliance’s taskforces and clusters.
To find out more about INVEST initiatives and activities, follow the alliance on LinkedIn at INVEST European University Alliance.
