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Research

Research Newsletter – Issue 96: ECIU Spotlight

ECIU for Researchers

ECIU’s mission is to be an ‘agile, open agora at the European level for solving multi-disciplinary societal challenges, doing research and learning for life’. It is an alliance of 13 universities  in 13 EU countries, and 1 university in Mexico, bringing many opportunities to DCU researchers.

 

ECIU Members
ECIU Members

ECIU Funding Collaborations

The number of submitted proposals emerging through collaboration across the consortium has been steadily growing - from 1.5 proposals/month in 2021 to 6 proposals/month in 2024 - and enjoying excellent success rates. DCU is currently participating with ECIU partners in projects funded through Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, and Digital Europe. For example, an Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership awarded in 2023 involving six ECIU partners is coordinated by DCU’s Aishling Silke (School of Language, Literacy & Early Childhood Education, IoE) and Dr Valesca Lima (School of Law and Government, FHSS): the ENHANCE project aims to build the skills and competencies of European researchers to ensure the authentic participation of citizens in research. 

ECIU Research and Innovation (R&I) Hub

ECIU’s R&I Hub is an online environment offering researchers a space to network, connect, and collaborate as part of the ECIU community. It provides ECIU researchers with news on less well-known funding opportunities, for example from private foundations, research institutions, and cascade funding opportunities from EU-awarded projects. The R&I Hub also keeps researchers informed about ECIU and EU level events such as networking events, workshops, seminars, info days and conferences. 

Researchers can use the R&I Hub Teams channels to receive updates on pre-announcements of European calls, to publish partner searches for their own proposals, and to get in contact with other ECIU researchers looking for partners. Currently, 700 members are part of the R&I Hub.

EU Funding and IP Expert Groups 

DCU is active in two Expert Groups that support the development of proposals involving ECIU partners in the consortium. We facilitate individual partner connections and run events for researchers, such as networking events for PIs to share project results and find partners for future proposals, and Q&As with Horizon and Erasmus+ evaluators. These groups have direct access to ECIU’s Funding Advisor and Brussels Office, supporting strong connections both across ECIU and with the EU Commission. This provides opportunities to share feedback with the Commission and obtain insights into developments, priorities and emerging directions in the EU. The two groups also link in to European-wide initiatives such as the European Research Agenda Actions, and Horizon and Erasmus+ programme reviews.

ECIU also has a strong and vibrant IP working group; and a commercialisation directors group will be  established in the near future.

Find out more:

 

DCU contacts for ECIU:

  • EduCo Expert Group representative: Erasmus+ Development Officer, Dr Sophie Ball sophie.ball@dcu.ie 

  • R&I Expert Group representative: Senior European Research Development Officer, Dr Amy Hall  amy.hall@dcu.ie

  • IP Working Group representative: Intellectual Property Operations Manager, Dr. Peter Olwell peter.olwell@dcu.ie

  • ECIU Senior Project Officer, Olivia Daly olivia.daly@dcu.ie