Mission

The name of this project, Ulysseus, comes from merging Ulysses + EU. Ulysses is the hero of Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, which means a long trip involving many different and exciting activities while searching for something. In this concept, we found Ulysseus’ leitmotiv.

“As you set out for Ithaca hope your road is a long one, full of adventure, full of discovery.”

Cavafy
Ithaca

Cavafy

Our journey to shape research and education

Our Alliance is as undeterred and audacious as Ulysses on his 10-year journey to Ithaca. Ulysseus is facing an ambitious 10 years endeavour to shape the European Higher Education Area and the European Research Area, and hence the future of Europe.

Our vision for 2030 is to develop an excellency-recognized and internationally attractive, open to the world, persons-centred and entrepreneurial European University for the citizens of the future. The process of transformation towards this European University involves the generation of a both territorial and digital Innovation Ecosystem, the Ulysseus Innovation Ecosystem.

Innovation ecosystem

An integrative and democratic governance

The co-creation of education, research and innovation interlinked activities

High impact on UN, European, regional and local challenges

Open Education and Open Science

Multilingualism and multiculturalism

Enhanced mobility with automatic recognition

An alliance open to the world

Understanding our Alliance as one Innovation Ecosystem developing solutions for specific R&D challenges from Innovation Hubs, is Ulysseus unique and distinguishing feature. Enhanced mobility within and beyond the campus, a joint internationalisation strategy and well-structured sustainability and dissemination plans will help to promote Ulysseus across international borders.

Ulysseus “open to the World” model of alliance will help to pursue the UN Sustainable Development Goals and will promote worldwide human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.

... with one Innovation Ecosystem

The Ulysseus European University gives Higher Education, research and innovation a crucial role in supporting social cohesion, economic growth and global competitiveness of our cities and regions.

Supported by a Digital Platform and a Central Management Office, Innovation Hubs will be the center of gravity of partners’ collaboration, sharpening the co-creation process for transdisciplinary and challenge-driven education, intertwined with research and knowledge transfer, and the promotion of citizen involvement and European values. The Hubs will count on Joint Research Centers and Incubators, Living labs and Open classes for liaison, brokerage and joint designing, fostering multistakeholderism and the engagement of citizens.

More about Innovation Hubs