Ulysseus Innovation Hub Managers and Project Officers gather in Nice for annual joint meeting

On 29–30 January 2026, the Ulysseus Innovation Hub Managers (IHMs) and International Project Officers (IPOs) came together in Nice, France, for the second edition of the annual in-person joint meeting, hosted by Université Côte d’Azur.

Held at the beginning of each year, the workshop helps shape the IPO and IHM Agendas, map major events and calls, and advance strategic initiatives such as Ulysseus R&I Groups, Living Labs, and collaborative project pipelines. “Its in-person format is essential, enabling trust-building, deep exchanges, and hands-on discovery of local innovation ecosystems”, explains Adil Bakayan, Manager of the Ulysseus International Project Office.

The event brings together key actors from across the Ulysseus alliance to plan, and align priorities for the year ahead. Reflecting on the collaborative spirit of the meeting, Julia Reinhard, Innovation Hub Manager at Haaga Helia University of Applied Sciences, noted: “I left the meeting feeling clear about our next steps and future avenues for collaboration. The focus on collaboration, sharing best practices and teamwork was very valuable to me personally”.

Rafael de Vera, International Project Officer at University of Seville, highlighted the value of these exchanges for aligning the alliance’s work: “As International Project Officer, I truly appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this dialogue and to work alongside such committed partners. By coming together, we are better able to define common challenges and explore how to address them.”

Following the 2025 edition in Brussels, which included visits to Ulysseus partners’ EU offices, the 2026 meeting in Nice included a visit to the IMREDD Living Lab, providing a hands-on opportunity to explore local innovation practices. The meeting highlighted the importance of connected teams, shared vision, and cross-partner collaboration, setting a strong course for Ulysseus’ research and innovation ambitions in the years to come. The next edition will be hosted by another Ulysseus partner, offering a chance to engage with local structures and further strengthen cross-partner connections.

About Ulysseus

Ulysseus is one of the 73 European Universities alliances selected by the European Commission under its flagship initiative of the European strategy for universities. These alliances, co-funded by the European Commission, bring together almost 650 higher education institutions of all types from across Europe. Led by the University of Seville, the Ulysseus European University Alliance encompasses seven other partner universities: the Université Côte d’Azur (France), University of Genoa (Italy), the Technical University of Košice (Slovakia), MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® (Austria), Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences (Finland), the University of Münster (Germany), and the University of Montenegro (Montenegro).