Our project coordinator, Professor Jelena Stanković from the Faculty of Economics, University of Niš, participated as a guest speaker at the international conference From Local Excellence to Global Impact: Importance of Internationalization for Reaching R&I Excellence, organized within the EINSTEIN project and hosted by the University of Novi Sad. The event brought together distinguished experts and university representatives from across Europe to discuss contemporary approaches to research and higher education internationalization.
Professor Stanković delivered a presentation entitled "Beyond the Grant: How Horizon Europe Projects Shape Institutional Global Identity", highlighting the strategic role of European research and innovation projects in strengthening institutional capacities, fostering international partnerships, and enhancing global visibility.
Drawing on the experience of the Faculty of Economics, University of Niš, she presented the achievements and lessons learned through several Horizon Europe initiatives, including UR-DATA, CROSS-REIS, and UR-WISE. Particular attention was devoted to the ways in which these projects contribute to research excellence, institutional transformation, international networking, knowledge transfer, and evidence-based policymaking.
The presentation also showcased a number of tangible outcomes achieved through international cooperation, including the establishment of new research infrastructures, the development of strategic partnerships with leading European institutions, the launch of the Journal of Regenerative Economics, the creation of the Centre for Local Economic Policies and Analyses (LEPA), and cooperation agreements with institutions such as the University of Cambridge and the University of Bologna.
Participation in the EINSTEIN conference further reinforces UR-WISE's commitment to promoting internationalization as a key driver of research excellence and institutional transformation, contributing to the project’s long-term vision of advancing data-based policymaking and strengthening the role of the University of Niš within the European Research Area.