Our Ecosystem

As part of the Transform4Europe Research and Innovation (T4ERI) initiative, eleven forward-thinking European universities are working together to shape a new generation of researchers ready to tackle today’s most pressing global challenges. From climate change and digital transformation to social shifts and public health crises, the T4ERI alliance empowers scholars to drive meaningful change at local and international levels.

At the heart of this vision is the belief that access to knowledge, collaboration, and innovation can influence the future—not just of academia, but of entire societies.

To make this vision actionable, Connect4Research was created: a dedicated matchmaking platform designed to help researchers across the T4EU alliance find ideal partners for interdisciplinary and international collaboration.

Whether you’re a PhD candidate starting your research journey or an early-career researcher looking to build your network, Connect4Research helps you connect with like-minded peers, share interests, and even form partnerships for seed funding applications. It’s more than a directory—it’s a space where collaboration starts.

The Innovation Ecosystems Mapping is part of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem work package (WP2) within the project BIKE-HEI. This result aims to map the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems at the BIKE-HEI partner Universities, UA, UP, USAAR and MSU.

The ecosystems mapping collected data of a diverse group of relevant stakeholders around the BIKE-HEI partner universities. The centres / central departments for innovation and entrepreneurship were the most responsive group according to the data provided by the questionnaire. The ecosystems mapping therefore allows an engagement with key actors around the partner HEIs right from the project onset.

Key actors within the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems of the partner HEIs were asked to fill out detailed questionnaires about their role within the ecosystem around the partner HEIs, about the significant gaps they consider within the ecosystems that hinder innovation and entrepreneurship services and academic spin-offs. Lastly, stakeholders were asked if they want to contribute to a plan to foster innovation and entrepreneurship services and policies. In summary, the questionnaire provided insights in strengths and weaknesses / gaps within the ecosystems. The data collected builds a strong foundation for the gap analysis.

The Gap Analysis Report is part of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem work package (WP2) within the project BIKE-HEI. This result aims to analyse existing gaps and weaknesses within the current innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems at the BIKE-HEI partner Universities in Spain, Slovenia, Ukraine and Germany with the aim to address these gaps and reinforce the innovation ecosystems where it is needed.

The innovation ecosystems mapping within the project BIKE-HEI collected data of a diverse group of relevant stakeholders around the BIKE-HEI partner universities. Key actors within the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems of the partner HEIs were asked to fill out detailed questionnaires about their role within the ecosystem around the partner HEIs, about the significant gaps they consider within the ecosystems that hinder innovation and entrepreneurship services and academic spin-offs. For the Gap Analysis Report, the data collected within the innovation ecosystems mapping is processed and analysed.

Additionally, one key actor per partner HEI gave more profound insights in a written interview about the current innovation and entrepreneurship situation. They were particularly also inquired about the existing gaps and weaknesses within their surrounding innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems.