Knowledge-generating Bodies Directory

For more than a century, the University of Birmingham has been pursuing and sharing knowledge through outstanding teaching and world-leading research.

We are the original ‘redbrick’ University, part of the prestigious Russell Group; our thriving student population enjoys a wide range of courses, and exceptional campus and research facilities.

The 10 Nobel Laureates we count among our staff and alumni have contributed to some of science’s greatest discoveries, including in recent times the Higgs Boson and Gravitational Waves. Our research provides innovative solutions to the challenges we face in our city, our region and across the globe.

As Northern Ireland’s civic university, Ulster University is grounded in the heart of the community and strives to make a lasting contribution to society as a whole. Renowned for its world-class teaching, Ulster aims to transform lives, stretch minds and develop the skills required by a growing economy.

The outcomes of our research have global significance with local relevance, and contribute to the social, economic and cultural betterment of our region.

Although the University can trace its roots back to the Victorian era, our sights are set firmly on the future. Our students are at the centre of everything we do, and each of our four campuses provides a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses that will engage our students and give them the skills they need to carve out their careers.

This is a new era for Ulster University as we are embarking on an ambitious plan for the next five years with a strategic vision that will take us to our fiftieth anniversary in 2034. At Ulster University we want to build on our successes and leave a legacy that is strong and dynamic.

BIKiNNOV – Bike Value Innovation Center- Association, is a private, non-profit organisation of Public Utility, established on March 8, 2022.

It was born from the ambition to provide a more comprehensive and qualified response than that currently provided by the ABIMOTA Laboratory – National Association of the Two Wheels Industry, decidedly betting on product and process innovation.

BIKiNNOV is a Technology and Innovation Center based in Águeda, which aims to provide technical and technological support to companies in the two-wheel sector, promoting the use of technology and innovation as tools for improving business competitiveness, for the increase of added value and for the qualification of the offer, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

It is dedicated to the production, diffusion and transmission of knowledge oriented towards companies and the creation of economic value, contributing to the pursuit of public policy objectives, guiding its action towards market needs, seeking to fill existing gaps and contribute to the response to societal challenges.

TAGUSVALLEY it’s a science and technology park, located in Center region of Portugal focused on applied research for the food and bioeconomy sector, industrial processes and energy.

We can be a useful partner for projects that aim to leverage TRL’s from 5 to 9 in the food and bio compounds extraction processes.

TAGUSVALLEY it’s a science and technology park, located in Center region of Portugal, and at the heart of the main agrifood production region of the country, and INOVLINEA it’s the applied research unit dedicated to support food processing at industrial pilot scale, that can be used to scaleup production and promote entrepreneurship because our facilities have industrial license and can be used as industrial incubation for the bioeconomy sector (priority for plant based products). The technical team and industrial resources can be an operational support to foster innovation and promote new sustainable business as a shared facility. One of the pilot scale technologies that we have are PEF – pulsed electric fields that have a very good results on the field of bio compounds extraction, that provides opportunities for this topic in order that it might be useful to improve and scale-up results.

Created in 1990 through a University of Coimbra initiative, Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN) is a private non-profit organisation which promotes innovation and the transfer of technology, establishing the connection between the scientific and technological environment and the market.

Our mission is to leverage a strong university-enterprise relationship for the promotion of innovation, rigour, quality and entrepreneurship in private and public sector organisations by acting in three complementary areas:

• Research and technological development, consultancy and specialised services;
• Incubation and acceleration of businesses and ideas;
• Highly specialised training and promotion of science and technology

We’re a public higher education institution founded in 1980 and established across the region of Leiria and Oeste. We’re committed to high standards of education and research and concerned about producing knowledge of high cultural, economic and social value.

We have five schools, located in the cities of Leiria (the School of Education and Social Sciences; the School of Technology and Management; and the School of Health Sciences), Caldas da Rainha (School of Arts and Design) and Peniche (School of Tourism and Maritime Technology).

Our work is driven by five core values: inclusion, cooperation, responsibility, innovation, and critical and entrepreneurial thinking.

Established in 1855 as the Federal Polytechnic School, ETH Zurich has, from the outset, been a national centre for education with international appeal, attracting talent from all over the world.

The successful combination of a cosmopolitan outlook with national roots made the young educational institution one of the driving forces behind industrialisation in Switzerland: it brought the necessary expertise into the country, trained technical specialists and helped set up groundbreaking national infrastructures.

ETH Zurich was given its present name, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule), in 1911. Over the decades that followed, it entered into solid partnerships with the state and with industry and invested increasingly in both applied and fundamental research, which were gaining in importance in relation to education. The university grew steadily and in 1961 it embarked on the first stage of constructing its second site on the Hönggerberg, on the outskirts of Zurich.

In more recent times, global developments such as computer-assisted data processing and the far-reaching consequences of globalisation have placed ever-increasing demands on universities.

ETH Zurich reacts to these new challenges by creating flexible organisational structures: new research units and programmes have emerged and the research itself is becoming more and more integrated and interdisciplinary.

The long-standing tradition of ETH Zurich, combined with its ability constantly to adapt to new requirements, have brought great success to the university. Today, it ranks among the world’s leading universities of science and technology.

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The Technische Universität Dresden (TUD) is a strong partner for cooperation in research, teaching and transfer - locally, nationally and internationally. As a founding member of the DRESDEN-concept (DDc) research alliance, it forms the DDc Science and Innovation Campus together with over 40 non-university research and cultural institutions. This is a unique place for interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific excellence in Dresden and the region.

Founded in 1303, Sapienza is the oldest university in Rome and the largest in Europe. Its mission is to contribute to the development of a knowledge society through research, excellence, quality education and international cooperation.

• 700 years of history
• 122,000 students (2022-2023 academic year)
• 3,576 professors
• 2,320 employees, technicians and librarians
• 1,260 administrative staff in university hospitals

Eurecat is Catalonia’s leading private technology center and one of Southern Europe’s top applied research organizations. Founded in 2015, it brings together over 600 professionals and generates more than €50 million in annual revenue. Eurecat serves more than 1,700 companies, mainly SMEs, and participates in over 200 high-value national and international R&D&i projects.

The center offers advanced technological solutions in four main areas: Digital, Industrial, Biotechnology, and Sustainability, covering more than 20 technological fields including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, smart materials, robotics, medical devices, and climate change solutions.

With a network of centers across Barcelona, Canet de Mar, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Girona, Lleida, Manresa, Mataró, Reus, Amposta, and an international office in Brazil, Eurecat acts as a bridge between research and industry, accelerating innovation, reducing risks, and providing tailored expertise to meet business needs.

UCAM HiTech is the technological innovation and business acceleration hub of the Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), located near the Los Jerónimos Campus. With 2,000 m² of facilities and a €5.5 million investment, the center focuses on transforming scientific research into impactful startups in health, sports, and food sectors. It offers resources, mentorship, and events like the LifeTech Summit to connect startups with investors and key stakeholders. UCAM HiTech is integrated into Spain's National Network of High Technology Incubators and collaborates with institutions such as the Incyde Foundation and the Spanish Chambers of Commerce.

ANCES (Asociación Nacional de CEEIs) is a Spanish non-profit organization established in 1994, comprising 33 Business Innovation Centres (CEEI/BICs) across various regions. These centres serve as key agents in fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development. ANCES collaborates with public and private entities to promote the creation and consolidation of innovative technology-based companies (EIBTs). It offers services such as incubation, acceleration, mentoring, and access to funding opportunities. Additionally, ANCES manages programs like ANCES Open Innovation, connecting startups with large corporations to address technological challenges. The association is also a certified member of the European Business and Innovation Centre Network (EBN), aligning with European standards for business innovation support.

The University of Málaga (UMA) is a public institution founded in 1972, located in the capital of Costa del Sol. With more than 40,000 students, UMA offers a diverse range of programs across various disciplines. It comprises multiple faculties and schools, including Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Law. The university is known for its research excellence, particularly in areas like biomedicine and engineering. UMA maintains a strong international presence, hosting over 1,600 exchange students annually through programs like Erasmus+ and ISEP. The campus is equipped with modern facilities, libraries, and sports centers, providing a comprehensive environment for academic and extracurricular activities.

CIT UPC is a non-profit entity affiliated with the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). Established to bridge the gap between academia and industry, CIT UPC leverages the university's research capabilities to foster innovation in businesses. It offers services in research capitalization, technology transfer, and project management. Operating across multiple sectors, CIT UPC collaborates with over 450 companies and more than 65 research groups, facilitating the application of cutting-edge technologies to real-world challenges.

ICMAB-CSIC is a multidisciplinary research center located at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), dedicated to cutting-edge research in advanced functional materials. Established in 1987, it is part of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and has been accredited as a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence since 2015. The institute focuses on areas such as energy, electronics, nanomedicine, and emerging applications, aiming to develop innovative materials to address global challenges. ICMAB collaborates with various national and international institutions, contributing significantly to scientific advancements in material science.