The capacity building (relevant to the present topic) towards the European Excellence Initiative aims to significantly strengthening cooperation between at least two organisations from the higher education sector in a Widening country (or different Widening countries), by linking it with at least two internationally-leading institutions from two different Member States or Associated Countries.
Essentially, the objectives of the topic are to:

• enhance the scientific and technological capacity of the linked institutions with a principal focus on the entities from the Widening Country/-ies;
• help raise the excellence profile of the HEI from the Widening country as well as the excellence profile of its staff;
• strengthen considerably the networks towards realising integrated cooperation between the participating entities in the research and innovation dimension, in synergy with the entities’ education and training dimensions.

 Proposals are expected to clearly outline the cooperation and strategy for stepping up and stimulating scientific excellence and innovation capacity in defined areas of research and innovation as well as the scientific quality of the partners involved in the exercise. This strategy should include arrangements for institutional transformation according to a shared agenda that could include:

• developing shared research & innovation strategies and roadmaps to create directional and interdisciplinary critical mass, in order to more effectively create impact for society;
• sharing capacity and resources, through collaborative settings preparing the network towards the establishment of a European Universities alliance or similar long-term network;
• strengthening attractiveness of researchers’ careers, towards a pipeline of talents crucial for an effective European Research Area, including reform in career assessment;
• co-operation with surrounding ecosystem actors for the transmission of knowledge and talents, e.g. through creation or reinforcing of technology transfer offices and cooperation platforms;
• transition to knowledge- and digitally-driven universities, conducting Open Science;
• creating proximity to and engaging citizens for solving societal challenges;
• supporting institutional change through inclusive gender equality plans.

Where relevant, any links with sustainable development objectives are to be outlined.