From Monday 23 March to Friday 27 March 2026, Sorbonne Paris Nord University (USPN) will host an Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) under the title "European Alliances: Living Labs and Excellence Hubs."
Organised within the framework of the UNINOVIS alliance, this International Week will bring together university staff members and professors to explore innovative models for collaboration, research and societal engagement.
Strengthening collaboration through Living Labs and Excellence Hubs
The programme focuses on two strategic concepts that are increasingly shaping the European higher education landscape:
- Living Labs as dynamic, real-world environments for experimentation, co-creation and applied research.
- Excellence Hubs as structured frameworks that connect institutional strengths, research capacity and regional ecosystems.
Participants will examine how these models can be implemented across campuses and faculties, and how they can reinforce each other within broader institutional strategies. By sharing best practices from across the alliance, the event aims to build a shared understanding of how innovation can be embedded into education and research structures.
Interactive learning and exchange
The International Week combines a virtual preparatory component with an on-site programme in Paris.
The virtual component (one day, prior to the physical mobility) will introduce the main themes and allow participants to present themselves, fostering intercultural dialogue and early team building.
During the on-site week (23–27 March 2026), participants will engage in:
- Workshops and seminars on Living Labs and Excellence Hubs
- Case studies and best-practice presentations from UNINOVIS partners
- Interactive sessions to design implementation strategies
- Panel discussions with experts in innovation and internationalisation
- Networking moments to stimulate long-term cooperation
- Collaborative exercises linking research projects to societal challenges
Expected impact
By the end of the week, participants are expected to:
- Gain a clear and practical understanding of Living Labs and Excellence Hubs
- Develop initial action plans for implementation within their own institutions
- Strengthen international networks within UNINOVIS
- Enhance their ability to connect institutional initiatives to real-world challenges
- Contribute to a shared framework for innovation and intercultural collaboration
This BIP represents an important step in deepening cooperation across the alliance, reinforcing the role of European university alliances as drivers of innovation, excellence and societal impact.