Brussels: The university alliance Stockholm Trio held EU course for researchers
The university alliance Stockholm Trio is a collaboration between Karolinska Institutet, The KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University. One of the objectives of the trio is to contribute to strengthen the three member universities participation in the European research programme Horizon Europe. In November, an important step on the way was taken, when the alliance’s Brussels Office for the first time held the “EU course”, hosting 18 researchers from the three universities.
At the end of November, the Stockholm Trio Brussels office organized an EU course for researchers of the trio universities. From NVS, Susanne Guidetti, Division of Occupational therapy, participated. The purpose of the course is to enable the researchers to increase their own engagement and participation at the EU level, through broader knowledge and understanding of EU research politics. This could mean applying for EU funding, or for example participate in expert groups or as a reviewer.
During the three-day course, the participating researchers met with representatives from Sweden’s permanent representation, the EU Commission, and university representatives from other countries in Brussels. The group also took a tour of the EU parliament and were introduced to the parliament members’ role in developing the EU framework for research and innovation. The EU office of the Stockholm Region also gave a presentation, informing about the work of the region and the EU decision making processes.
One afternoon the group made a visit to Ghent University, with an opportunity to meet with Belgian colleagues, as well as being introduced to other disciplines. The visit was very successful, and a first step towards possible future research collaborations.
The intensive three days in Belgium were much appreciated by the researchers. The increased understanding of the EU institutions in general also contributes to a wider understanding of the EU research politics, as this is precisely what constitutes Horizon Europe: a political programme where research and innovation are used to obtain specific political goals and priorities, based on needs and challenges in the society.
The course will be evaluated in Stockholm, in January.
Original text: Carolina Kristell, Grants Office
Translation: Kathrin Dellblad