EUNICoast is building its Common Research Agenda through a structured, bottom-up process led by WP3 and coordinated by the University of the Azores. The agenda draws on the expertise of five Teaching & Research Hubs, each addressing a distinct thematic area: coastal heritage and identities, blue circular economy, island governance, biodiversity and marine resources, and coastal engineering.
In Year 1, WP3 completed a comprehensive mapping of R&I ecosystems across all 12 partner universities, assessing human resources, scientific output, funding capacity, and regional alignment with Smart Specialisation Strategies. This evidence base now informs the co-creation phase.
Each Hub is defining up to three priority sub-areas, identifying research gaps, and proposing concrete research lines. Contributions feed into five strategic pillars: scientific excellence, open science, talent development, inter-institutional mobility, and knowledge transfer. The methodology ensures alignment with European Research Area priorities and regional innovation needs.
A public consultation at each partner institution runs from late February to mid-March 2026. The Board of Vice-Rectors for Research & Innovation will validate the final agenda, due for formal submission in April 2026.
