2025 activities

The “Procedure to Leverage Joint Research Activities” second call, launched in June 2025 at the annual Research Week, was designed to foster research collaboration among the nine universities of the EU GREEN alliance.

This annual call offers three distinct opportunities for funding: Incentive for collaborative research activities, Scientific conferences, and Mobility for researchers. These initiatives aim to promote cross-border collaboration and strengthen scientific partnerships contributing to sustainable development:

• Incentive for collaborative research activities support exploratory activities that will pave the way for larger research projects.
• Scientific conferences support the organization of conferences focused on sustainability-related topics.
• Mobility for researchers enable researchers to travel between partner universities to strengthen existing collaborations or explore new ones.

This year, the activities will be funded for 1 year, until the end of 2026.  The alliance budget dedicated to this 3^rd call is 244 293€

The selected activities for 2025 are:

SENTINEL – Smart Engagement and Networking Tools for Interactive Narratives in European Living Heritage

Summary :
The SENTINEL project (Smart Engagement and Networking Tools for Interactive Narratives in European Living Heritage) addresses persistent challenges in the cultural heritage sector, where institutions often rely on costly, fragmented, and inaccessible tools for content creation, sharing,and exhibition design. Many cultural heritage institutions (CHIs), especially smaller or underresourced ones, face significant barriers to adopting advanced digital solutions due to high costs, technical complexity, and a lack of interoperable systems. This limits their ability to collaborate, reuse digital assets, and engage visitors through modern, interactive experiences. SENTINEL responds by designing two interconnected toolkits, SENTINEL Create and SENTINEL Design, that empower CHIs of all sizes to produce, share, and deliver engaging digital and physical heritage experiences. SENTINEL Create simplifies the production and reuse of interactive multimedia content, integrating resources such as 3D models, images, and metadata, while ensuring compatibility with European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage (ECCCH) standards. SENTINEL Design provides innovative tools for 3D visualization, visitor navigation analysis, and lighting optimization, enabling institutions to create accessible, cost-effective, and aesthetically refined exhibitions. The project’s ambition is to democratize digital transformation in heritage by offering userfriendly, open-source, and interoperable tools. These will reduce duplication of effort, lower costs, and encourage collaborative workflows across the ECCCH. Inclusivity lies at the project’s core: the intuitive interfaces, minimal hardware requirements, and participatory development ensure that small institutions, freelancers, and non-technical users can also benefit.

Cluster : C4- Heritages & Tourism 
Universities : Atlantic Technological University, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, University of Gävle, University of Evora

miRAMa – A Novel microRNA-Based Diagnostic Framework for Proactive Mastitis Management in Dairy Cattle

Summary :
Contemporary animal production faces the profound challenge of maintaining animal health while simultaneously increasing productivity and minimizing environmental impact and antibiotic use. In the dairy sector, mastitis epitomizes this challenge, as it represents an inflammatory disease of the mammary gland intrinsically linked to immune responses and responsible for substantial economic and welfare impacts. This condition is a leading cause of economic loss and therapeutic antibiotic administration. Addressing this issue head-on, this project proposes a simple, cost-effective method to detect microRNAs (miRNAs) in milk, which serve as direct molecular reflections of immune system activity. The central premise is that the early detection of specific miRNAs can predict disease onset, thereby significantly improving animal welfare and reducing the reliance on antibiotics. This initiative, however, aims for an impact beyond scientific discovery; it is founded on a dual mission that pairs pioneering research with a robust formative and dissemination strategy to ensure its innovations are effectively translated into industry-wide practice.

Cluster : C2-  Agriculture, food and environmental sustainability
Universities : Parma University, University of Evora, UO, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences

Edu-GreenLabs – AI for Inclusive and Sustainable Learning Ecosystems

Summary :
Edu-GreenLabs unites three universities of the EU-GREEN Alliance – the University of Oradea (Romania), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg (Germany), and the University of Évora (Portugal) – to establish a durable and  interdisciplinary collaboration addressing one of Europe’s most pressing educational challenges: reconciling digital inclusion with environmental sustainability. 

Cluster : C5 - Education sciences for sustainable development
Universities : Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, University of Evora, University of Oradea 

EDOP-25 – Eating Disorders in Older People in Residential Care

Summary :
Eating disorders (EDs) are among the most lethal psychiatric illnesses, and yet their presence in later life remains largely invisible. While research and services tend to focus on adolescents and young adults, there is growing evidence—and clinical concern—that EDs in older populations are underdiagnosed, misattributed to general frailty or dementia, and inadequately managed. This project—EDOP-25: Eating Disorders in Older People in Residential Care—will catalyse a cross-national, interdisciplinary collaboration across three EU GREEN partner institutions (University of Gävle, University of Extremadura, and Atlantic Technological University) to reach expert consensus on the current main challenges in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of older persons with EDs in residential care, and to reach consensus on which parts of existing national treatment guidelines for EDs are relevant and useful for the treatment of older people

Cluster : C1-Emerging paradigms for health and  wellbeing 
Universities : Atlantic Technological University, University of Extremadura, University of Gävle

CLEAR – Community-led Low-carbon Economy Actions for Rural areas: barriers and opportunities in area-based partnerships

Summary :
The CLEAR project investigates how area-based, community-led rural partnerships, particularly Local Action Groups (LAGs) established under the Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) frameworks (former LAEDER approach), contribute to implementing a low-carbon economy (LCE) in rural Europe. Rooted in the EU’s participatory development model, LAGs represent bottom-up governance, enabling local communities to shape development priorities according to their territorial needs. This project recognises LAGs as pivotal intermediaries in bridging local realities with European climate and sustainability policies, while also addressing their underexplored potential to advance low-carbon transitions. LAGs have historically supported economic diversification, social inclusion, and innovation, creating resilient local economies through sustainable agriculture, renewable energy projects, and preserving cultural and natural resources. However, existing research shows that while LAGs are vital for local governance, their engagement in energy transition and carbon reduction remains limited. Furthermore, their collaboration with research institutions, a key requirement of the EU rural development policy, is weakly institutionalised. These gaps hinder the effective transfer of knowledge and innovation between universities and rural actors. CLEAR aims to address these challenges through two complementary dimensions: socio-organizational and analytical preliminary studies.

Cluster : C5 -  Education sciences for sustainable development
Universities : Parma University, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, University of Oradea, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences

AI VET Conference – Artificial Intelligence in Veterinary Medicine – Conference

Summary :
The third edition of Interdisciplinary International Conference on the use of "Artificial Intelligence in Veterinary Medicine" will be held at the University of Environmental and Life Sciences (UPWR) in the John Paul II Hall in April 2026. The educational conference aims to disseminate knowledge and access of current methods of implementing AI in veterinary medicine for students and staff as well as scientists and practitioners.
Established in 2024 by Dr Marta Facon-Poroszewska, the AI VET Conference is a platform of networking, knowledge sharing and discussion among top scientists, business owners and academic teachers of European education area focused on the topic of AI implementation in veterinary industry, science and education to support sustainable European development and high quality research-based education. Achieving these goals could increase European competitiveness while preserving western civilizational standards of social responsibility in rapidly changing world after AI introduction

Cluster : C1 - Emerging paradigms for health and  wellbeing 
Universities : Atlantic Technological University, University of Gävle, , Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Extremadura 

Nurses4Sustainability – Nurses4Sustainability

Summary :
The shortage of nurses and new graduates reporting lack of competence in some areas and high levels of stress make it important to study nursing education and clinical practice education (CPE) as it is the basis for nurse wellbeing and competence in the future. The project ‘Nurses4Sustainability’ brings together nurse researchers from Gävle, Extremadura and Parma. The team consists of three female researcher and four male, four early career researchers. Capacity building and networking are emphasized during the research project focusing on nursing students during clinical practice education and their supervisors. The overall aim is to contribute to a sustainable empowering education for nursing students and a sustainable work environment for nurses working as supervisors at the same time as they perform their duties as registered nurses. The project Nurses4Sustainability will promote an inclusive, sustainable nursing training during CPE, empowering nursing students and their supervisors (registered nurses). Strengthen the collaboration between the university and the local/regional healthcare setting for a sustainable CPE. Nurses4Sustianability brings nursing researchers within EUGREEN together to explore and develop strategies to improve nursing student CPE, competence and wellbeing as well as supervisors’ competence and wellbeing. In the long run, it contributes to attracting, training, and retaining qualified nurses and addressing the global nursing workforce shortage. The specific aims are 1) to explore nursing students' competence, learning and wellbeing (thriving and stress) after the last CPE in relation to how the CPE is structured and student-rated CPE learning environment; and 2) to explore supervisor competence, wellbeing and structural conditions for the role. Activities planned are networking in online meetings and three workshops, one in each university, data collection and co-authoring 1-2 papers. Training of early career researchers will take place during all parts from project management, design of a multi-site cross-sectional study, data collection, analysis and results dissemination. Stakeholders from regional healthcare settings will be involved in the beginning and at the end of the project. Based on the results from the research project and workshops with stakeholders a course plan for an online supervisor training course will be developed to empower supervisors in the clinical healthcare settings.       

Cluster : C1 - Emerging paradigms for health and  wellbeing 
Universities : Parma University, University of Gävle, University of Extremadura 

NEXT-AGE80 – Cross-Border Living & Care Expectations for the Next Generation of Older Adults

Summary :
Problem:
Europe is on the verge of a demographic inflection: cohorts born in the 1960s–70s will reach very old age in the 2040s–50s. Unlike their parents, these future older adults are digitally literate, value autonomy, and seek alternatives to institutional long-term care. Yet, policy and service models still reflect assumptions of past generations, with limited insight into what today’s 55–65 year-olds expect at age 80. Aim (Exploratory & Collaborative):
NEXT-AGE 80 is an exploratory, multi-partner collaboration across Universidade de Évora (PT), Universidad de Extremadura (ES), and Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (DE). It will reinforce collaboration by combining complementary expertise (healthy ageing, social care, digital health, community design) and will deliver travel & networking, information sharing, access-to-data arrangements, and joint outputs (a comparative insight report and a short working paper) that seed larger projects (Interreg/Horizon) and formalise a cross-border subgroup on “Next-Gen Ageing”. 
Objectives:
(1) Map preferences for living arrangements (home alone, co-living/co-housing, intergenerational, small homelike settings, institutional models), care pathways (home/community/institutional mixes), and technology use (telehealth, wearables, AI/robots) at age 80;
(2) Explore equity and inclusion for minority groups (e.g., LGBTQ+, migrants, different religions/cultures);
(3) Identify cross-country convergences/divergences shaped by culture, welfare regimes, and globalisation;
(4) Produce actionable recommendations and joint scholarly outputs;
(5) Establish a standing sub-group and prepare a larger collaborative application.

Cluster : C1 - Emerging paradigms for health and  wellbeing  
Universities : Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, University of Evora, University of Extremadura 

SAVE-U – Sustainable networks supplychain

Summary :
Within Cluster 3, a sub-cluster addresses the adverse impacts of rising demand for energy, materials, and food through sustainable engineering and technology. A key challenge is assessing practices that contribute to sustainability issues. This research develops a sustainability assessment framework for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) value chain, where sustainability efforts are growing but remain debated. While sustainability initiatives within HEIs—such as green campus programs, energy efficiency projects, and well-being measures—are expanding, their effectiveness and consistency remain contested. In addition, activities traditionally viewed as positive, such as international mobility, research collaborations, and global partnerships, can inadvertently increase carbon footprints or resource consumption, revealing the nuanced and sometimes conflicting dimensions of sustainability in academia. Measure includes various aspects of sustainability such as renewable energy use, efficient heating, green campus initiatives, or well-being measures. It aims to provide a holistic and scalable tool for HEIs to identify strengths, gaps, and trade-offs in their sustainability performance. To ensure the alignment of institutional strategies with long-term sustainability objectives, a roadmap will be developed for better sustainability practices within the university value chain, supporting decision-makers in implementing targeted improvements. Beyond the academic sector, this seed-funding project will establish the foundation for a broader “sustainable network”, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among universities, industry partners, and policymakers. The long-term vision is to extend the framework to other industries, promoting cross-sector learning and innovation in sustainable value creation.

Cluster : C3-  Education sciences for sustainable development 
Universities : Atlantic Technological University, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, University of Gävle, University of Oradea 

ALGAEMETH  - Algae and Crop Residues for Sustainable Biomethanol

The ALGAEMETH seed project aims to establish the scientific and organisational groundwork for a future Horizon Europe proposal on renewable methanol from crop residues and microalgae. The project addresses the urgent need for alternative low-carbon fuels for shipping and other sectors where electrification is difficult. The combustion of fossil fuels remains a major source of greenhouse gases, making the development of renewable and carbon-neutral energy carriers essential. Current biofuel production relies largely on plant-derived biomass rich in oils and energy content. This feedstock cannot meet the growing demand, and raises concerns about competition with food production. In parallel, large quantities of crop residues remain underexploited, with limited technologies available for nutrient recovery. Microalgae represent a promising complementary resource. They grow rapidly, do not compete with food production, and can achieve higher oil yields than terrestrial plants. Despite these advantages, algae alone are not economically feasible as a biofuel feedstock. A promising solution lies in combining crop residues and microalgae in an integrated biorefinery. By coupling biofuel production with the generation of high-value co-products, such systems can be both environmentally sustainable and economically feasible. This approach is
particularly relevant for shipping, where demand for carbon-neutral fuels is rising rapidly.

Cluster : C6 - Challenges in ecosystem biodiversity and function - a macroregional evaluation 

Universities : Parma University, University of Gävle, University of Evora, University of Oradea 

STSF  - Sustainable Teachers for Sustainable Futures 

The Sustainable Teachers for Sustainable Futures (STSF) project addresses a widely shared challenge in European higher education: preparing a teaching workforce for early childhood and primary education that is not only motivated and professionally grounded but also equipped to engage with sustainability as a long-term educational value. Initial teacher education (ITE) systems across Europe are under pressure due to persistent issues, including staff shortages, high attrition rates, declining professional status, and an often superficial or inconsistent inclusion of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in both curricula and practicum experiences. Despite substantial policy commitments to ESD, the absence of a standardized instrument to screen for patterns in professional engagement that incorporate sustainability values remains a significant gap, leaving these dimensions underexplored and unevenly addressed in practice. The STSF project addresses these gaps by integrating two often-disconnected priorities—professional identity and sustainability education—into a single, evidence-based framework for reflection and improvement.    

Cluster : C5 -  Education sciences for sustainable development 

Universities:  University of Gävle, University of Oradea, University of Extremadura 

OXY-FIBRA - Optimizing Exercise Physiology in Special Populations: Evidence from Fibromyalgia towards Broader Clinical Applications

Summary :

Exercise represents a cornerstone of health promotion and clinical rehabilitation. However, individuals with chronic clinical condition such as fibromyalgia, frailty, and cardiorespiratory diseases, often display impaired physiological responses to exercise, limiting their ability to achieve therapeutic benefits safely. Previous studies conducted at the University of Évora have consistently demonstrated reduced muscular oxygen utilization in women with fibromyalgia, leading to premature fatigue, autonomic imbalance, and altered cortical activation patterns. These phenomena were identified through integrated assessments involving near-infrared spectroscopy (i% Sat O2, Oxy and Deoxyhemoglobin), electroencephalography (EEG), and heart rate variability (HRV). Such evidence highlights a potential convergence of physiological mechanisms across different chronic conditions, emphasizing the need for transnational collaboration to develop standardized protocols for exercise optimization in vulnerable populations. The general objective is to optimize exercise physiology in special populations through the integration of advanced monitoring technologies and personalized intervention strategies.

Cluster: C3- Education sciences for sustainable developmen

Universities:  Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, University of Evora, University of Extremadura 

BAGELS in ECE  - Blue And Green Learning Environments ( BAGEL) Supporting Sustainability in Early Childhood Education

Summary 

This project advances the EU-GREEN alliance’s mission to promote sustainability-oriented transformation in higher education through research, teaching, and social engagement. It focuses on Early Childhood Education for Sustainability (ECEfS), a crucial yet under-represented area with transformative potential for both individual wellbeing and collective ecological responsibility. Anchored in the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (particularly SDG 4 – Quality Education and SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities), the project addresses urgent European and global concerns regarding environmental degradation, disconnection from nature, and the need to foster sustainability-minded citizens from the earliest stages of life.

Cluster :  Education sciences for sustainable development 

Universities: Parma University, Atlantic Technological University, University of Gävle, University of Evora

RIVER -  River talks/Paroles de fleuves- Conference 

Summary 

RIVER TALKS/Paroles de fleuves  seeks to focus on existent rivers and their local ecologies from a literary and cultural studies perspective. As the title implies, the conference topic thereby touches upon various dimensions of the river imaginaries as sustaining an ecological unconscious from talks about rivers to the voice of rivers themselves.

Cluster : Other 

Universities: All 9 

MultiForest  - MultiForest: multifunctional approach to agroforestry for resilience and sustainability

Summary 

The MultiForest proposal has the main objective to develop a multifunctional approach in the management of rural areas in four territories of the EU GREEN Alliance, in Italy,  Poland, Spain, Portugal, developing research proposals to implement this new approach together with local stakeholders. The multifunctional approach focuses on the ecosystem services that can be provided in agroforestry and silvopastoral systems, making clear to stakeholders all the benefits that can derive from a sustainable management of forests and related environments moving towards green and digital transition. Beyond the sequestration of carbon, forests can provide many other provisioning, regulating, supporting and  cultural services. The partners aim at providing tools for estimating and potentiating the ecosystem services, in cooperation with the stakeholders with the final goal of making the rural environments more viable and attractive. 

Cluster :  Agriculture, food and environmental sustainability

Universities: Parma University, University of Evora, University of Extremadura, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences