The Rectors and Presidents Steering Group (RPSG) of the ACE²-EU Alliance convened this afternoon, from 14:00 to 17:00, alongside members of the External Stakeholder Advisory Board (ESAB), for a high-level strategic session hosted at the Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI).
The meeting brought together the Rectors and Presidents of all Alliance members, the General Manager, the Strategy Advisor/Coordinator, and Vice-Rectors/Vice-Presidents, together with 27 ESAB members representing the alliance’s core associate partners across regional, national, and international levels. The ESAB plays a central advisory role, ensuring the ACE²-EU initiative remains aligned with the most pressing societal, economic, and environmental challenges driving Europe’s transformation.
The objectives of the session were to provide strategic oversight, review the alliance’s achievements, and define future directions through multi-stakeholder dialogue and collaboration.
Welcome & Introductions (14:00–14:30)
The meeting opened with introductions and the nomination process for the ESAB Chair, followed by a presentation on the ACE²-EU Mission and Vision implementation. Members discussed the Terms of Reference draft, offering feedback on governance structures, responsibilities, and procedures guiding the ESAB’s operations.
Strategic Overview (14:30 – 15:00)
The session continued with an overview of the alliance’s achievements and impact, emphasizing the progress made toward innovation, education excellence, and sustainable regional collaboration. The discussion explored effective strategies for engaging external stakeholders in advancing ACE²-EU’s shared goals.
External Stakeholders’ Perspective Session (15:00 – 15:45)
Stakeholders provided diverse insights from three key perspectives:
- Regional government: leveraging ACE²-EU to foster sustainable territorial development
- Industry and business: supporting innovation and entrepreneurship through alliance-driven initiatives
- Society and culture: promoting inclusion, community engagement, and multicultural collaboration across Europe
Strategic Recommendations & Closure (15:45 – 16:00)
The meeting concluded with a summary of recommendations from the ESAB for consideration by the RPSG and Governing Authority. These recommendations aim to reinforce the alliance’s long-term strategic vision and strengthen collaboration between academia, industry, and society.
An official group photo session followed, capturing the participation of ESAB members and RPSG representatives, before the delegation proceeded to a guided tour of the CARISSMA Research and Test Centre during the networking coffee break.
