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UNIT Research

UNIT Research

Rural and mountain regions, especially cross-border areas, are deeply affected by the center-periphery dynamic. This factor causes their gradual isolation and a demographic decline in the non-central areas, which significantly suffer a depopulation process. On the other hand, mountains are a wonderful lab for research, experimentation and innovation, but also for the development of new uses related to emerging technologies. They are also territories facing the transition of our societies triggered by environmental and ecological problems, with their impact and threats.

In addition to the conservation and management of a common cultural (and natural) heritage, border territories, rural and/or mountain, must contribute to structuring the European space, through partnerships in the field of Research. Considering this potential and this competitive advantage, UNITA's partner universities, firmly anchored in their territories, propose the creation of an experimental model based on the deconstruction of existing approaches and policies, thus offering a totally new vision.

The objective is to define a common action framework for all interested parties, public or private, from the territories that want to get involved in the UNITA project, thus contributing to the consolidation smart specialization strategies and to building a sustainable development model for rural areas, aligned to European Green Deal and at Sustainable Development Goals.

UNITA's strategy is firmly linked to the policy defined by the European Commission in 2016 as "the 3 Os policy": Open Innovation, Open Science, Open to the World. To contribute to the sustainable development of their territories, UNITA will focus in the first phase of the project on three thematic areas main in terms of research and innovation:

  • Cultural heritage: strengthening the heritage and identity of territories.
  • Renewable energy: energy transition and resource management.
  • The circular economy, including the bioeconomy: networking and opening economies.

UNITA proposes an action plan based on the launch in each of the three thematic areas of a Research and Innovation Hub. The long-term objective is to expand their coverage to all thematic areas that can be addressed through the coordinated collaboration of all public and private actors in each ecosystem, in order to strengthen the links between education, research and innovation; and to promote the societal engagement of staff and students as well as their entrepreneurial skills.