Day 3: Research & Innovation
Opening Vice-Rector Prof Ken Haenen (9:00-09:15)
Welcome by the Vice-rector of Research, Hasselt University, prof. dr. Ken Haenen.
Exploring the Flagship Initiatives (9:15-10:45)
Begin the day with an in-depth introduction to the EURECA-PRO flagship Circular Energy Production and Consumption. Prof. dr. Wouter Schroeyers (UHasselt, Faculty of Engineering Technology) will provide a comprehensive overview of the initiative, outlining its thematic research pillars, its integration in education, and its contributions to innovation. The session will further highlight the teams and collaborations currently involved, the infrastructures and joint projects that support their work, and forthcoming EU funding opportunities being targeted.
Contributions and presentations from other EURECA-PRO flagship initiatives will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Poster experience (11:15-12:15)
This is not an ordinary poster session. The EURECA-PRO poster experience offers a valuable opportunity to present your research or educational programmes, share your expertise and methods, and explore potential collaborations. Posters will be displayed according to EURECA-PRO flagship themes, allowing participants to easily connect with researchers and educators working on related topics.
Participants are invited to follow poster trajectories - curated sequences of posters - that guide them through the alliance’s key research areas, innovations in education, and collaborative projects. Presenters will remain at their posters to engage in dialogue, while visitors move along the trajectories to exchange ideas and identify new synergies. Among the highlights is a poster presentation on UHasselt’s international Master in Energy Engineering Technology (iMEET), showcasing how education and research are intertwined.
When registering, please indicate whether you plan to bring a poster so that sufficient display space can be reserved. Posters are recommended in A0 portrait format or any other size compatible with standard poster boards. Please note that printing will not be available on-site.
Flagship synergy session: from connections to collaboration (13:30-15:30)
In the afternoon, parallel Flagship synergy sessions will take place. These hands-on sessions aim to turn connections within (and beyond) the alliance into concrete steps for collaboration.
Each session will be led and facilitated by members of the Flagship core groups, who will guide discussions and ensure an outcome-oriented approach. The sessions will follow a practical, four-part structure:
- Connecting Research – Researchers will share their expertise and ongoing projects, identifying complementarities and exploring opportunities for joint initiatives, such as EU funding proposals, shared infrastructures, or co-supervised PhDs.
- Connecting Education – Participants are invited to present their educational programmes and discuss how curricula and teaching activities from different partners can be aligned or jointly developed.
- Third mission and Innovation – Participants will explore ways to collaborate with external partners, foster knowledge transfer, and develop impactful innovation initiatives.
- Roadmap and Next Steps – Each group will collaboratively develop a short action plan outlining concrete next steps and future directions for their flagship.
Participants from all EURECA-PRO partner universities, as well as external collaborators, are welcome to join. To make the discussions as productive as possible, partners are encouraged to prepare a brief presentation on their research groups, educational programmes, and collaboration interests.
These sessions offer a focused environment to get to know one another, connect research and educational efforts across institutions, and shape the future of each flagship.
Grant writing courses and funding possibilities for EU funding (13:30-15:30)
Join us for an intro to EU funding possibilities for projects within our university alliance. We’ll discuss some of the most interesting opportunities and set you up with some essential grant writing and proposal tips and tricks from our experience, giving you a head start on your next project.