On 3–4 December, Jönköping University (JU) hosted a two-day matchmaking event in collaboration with Science Park and Crowdhelix, aimed at preparing for upcoming Horizon Europe calls. Nearly 80 participants—around 40 of them from the European university alliance EULiST—gathered to build new connections and explore opportunities for joint research and innovation. Upon arrival, attendees received color-coded badges identifying their thematic interests, which facilitated targeted networking.
The central theme, “Human-Centered Digital Transformation for Sustainable Societies,” highlighted the need to align technological development with social challenges, reflecting EULiST’s mission of linking society and technology. For JU, a member of the alliance since 2023, the event provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen international partnerships and deepen collaboration among member institutions.
Together with JU’s partner Crowdhelix, participants engaged in discussions about international project development and strategies for successful participation in Horizon Europe, the EU’s major research and innovation framework. Crowdhelix contributes expertise through curated speakers, matchmaking events across Europe, and AI-based tools that help researchers craft competitive proposals. According to Shira Becker, Senior Grants Advisor at JU and initiator of the event, the meeting served as an “aperitif”—a starting point that will lead into the more demanding work of developing concrete project applications.
The program combined research idea pitches, workshops, and networking activities. Short presentations enabled participants to quickly identify shared interests and potential avenues for collaboration. Contributions from representatives of Vinnova, as well as leaders from JU’s senior management, added strategic insights to the event.
Participants emphasized that the event broadened their perspectives and provided tangible ideas for future cooperative projects. Dirk Brockmann-Behnsen represented the IDMP's Physics Education Group in the networking session ‘Closing the learning gap: uncovering causes and effective policy interventions for declining youth skills in mathematics, reading, and science’ (call number HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-TRANSFO-06) led by Piedad Tolmos from the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid.
