E³UDRES² participated in the 3rd International Conference on Resilience and Sustainable Regions (ICRSR 2026), held on 29–30 October in Setúbal, Portugal, organised by the Polytechnic University of Setúbal, showcasing its commitment to strengthening applied research and European collaboration to address societal, environmental and regional challenges.
A highlight of the alliance's participation was the presentation of its Applied Research Centres of Excellence initiative, introduced by Raquel Barreira under the title "Building Research Excellence Together: the E³UDRES² Applied Research Centers initiative".
On 30 October, a dedicated session, chaired by Raquel Barreira, offered participants the opportunity to discover three of the alliance's prospective research centres and their contributions to addressing key European challenges.
Three centres, shared ambition
The session showcased three research initiatives:
CIRCULATE – Center for Circular Materials, Innovation and Education, led by Politehnica University Timișoara (UPT), brings together expertise in circular economy, sustainable materials and innovation, promoting solutions that transform waste into valuable resources. The centre was represented by Corina Sosdean, from UPT.
OHARCE – One Health Applied Research Center of Excellence for Regional Wellbeing and Sustainability, led by JAMK University of Applied Sciences (Jamk), adopts an integrated One Health approach, connecting human, animal and environmental health to promote healthier and more sustainable communities. The centre was represented by Katriina Hyvönen, from Jamk.
Aquatech – Aquatic Biotechnology, Environment & Energy Technologies, led by the Polytechnic University of Setúbal (UNIPS), focuses on applied research in aquatic biotechnology, environmental protection and energy technologies, contributing to sustainable aquatic ecosystems and the blue economy. The centre was represented by Ricardo Salgado, from UNIPS.
Strengthening European research collaboration
The presentation of these three centres highlighted the potential of E³UDRES² to connect complementary expertise, research infrastructures and institutional networks across Europe.
By bringing researchers together and fostering collaboration with businesses, public authorities and regional communities, the centres aim to translate scientific knowledge into practical solutions with tangible societal and environmental impact.
Beyond the dedicated session on the Applied Research Centres, researchers from three additional E³UDRES² partner institutions (Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Saxion University of Applied Sciences and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences) presented their work at the conference. Their participation highlighted the breadth of research expertise across the alliance and reinforced E³UDRES²'s role in fostering international scientific exchange and collaboration.
Links
➝ ICRSR
Article created by: UNIPS
