Virtual Institutes are joint institutes "without physical walls" that host international and interdisciplinary teams composed of students, professors, researchers, and innovators from the seven universities that are part of the EC2U Alliance. Their goal is to find innovative solutions to local, national, European, and global challenges.
This is a completely new way of promoting the rapid integration of research results and innovation in education through new challenge-based learning pathways and a variety of short-term training opportunities, such as internships, summer/winter schools, workshops, etc.
Like the EC2U Alliance, the Virtual Institutes are inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). Specifically: "Good Health and Well-being", "Quality Education", "Sustainable Cities and Communities" and "Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions".
EC2U Virtual Institutes Seeds Grants Call
The University of Pavia supports the work of the EC2U Alliance’s Virtual Institutes through the EC2U Virtual Institutes Seeds Grants Call.
The call provides funding to encourage academic and research staff to submit projects focused on the themes of the Virtual Institutes and involving at least two other partner universities of the Alliance. Projects must be aimed at training, international cooperation, exchange of good practices, sport and/or related initiatives. Eligible calls may include, for example, Erasmus+ KA2 or KA3, CERV and Creative Europe.
GLADE | Good Health and Well-being
The Virtual Institute for Good Health and Well-Being (GLADE) aims to develop specific approaches to education, research, innovation and the transfer of services to the community within the framework of the third UN SDG: Good Health and Well-being for All. The scientific lead for the University of Pavia is Professor Rossella Nappi.
The Virtual Institute’s main activities are:
🔹 the EC2U GLADE Literacy LAB, which promotes lectures by EC2U academics and researchers, Summer Schools and short training videos on health and well-being for all;
🔹 the EC2U GLADE Transformative Research HUB, which produces studies and guidelines for local authorities, as well as policy papers on health and well-being;
🔹 the EC2U GLADE Healthy Campus Services, which focuses on health on university campuses.
Find out more:
https://ec2u.eu/staff/elevate-your-research
VIQE-ML | Virtual Institute for Quality Education - Modern languages
Inspired to the UN Sustainable Development Goal Quality Education (#5) VIQE-ML combines education, research, and innovation to promote advanced studies on quality education. The scientific lead for the University of Pavia is Professor Elisabetta Jezek.
Key activities:
🔹 Research on language policy
🔹 Mobility program for young researchers on linguistic and cultural diversity
🔹 Joint PhD training in European languages and cultures
Find out more:
https://ec2u.eu/staff/elevate-your-research
VISCC | Virtual Institute for Sustainable Cities and Communities
VISCC combines research, education, and innovation to support the United Nations Goal Sustainable Cities and Communities (#11). The scientific lead for the University of Pavia is Professor Marco Morandotti.
Key activities:
🔹 Joint Master’s Degree in Sustainable Cities and Communities
🔹 PhD training and co-supervised thesis projects
🔹 Online courses
🔹 Winter and Summer Schools
🔹 Research projects
By promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and mobility among EC2U universities, cities, and citizens, VISCC aims to foster impactful change for more sustainable communities.
To learn more: https://ec2u.eu/staff/elevate-your-research
VIPJSI | Virtual Institute for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
The Virtual Institute for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (VIPJSI) promotes collaboration between EC2U universities, cities, and citizens through interdisciplinary scientific activities. The scientific lead for the University of Pavia is Professor Ilaria Poggiolini.
Inspired to the UN Development Goal (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (#16) the VIPJSI offers:
🔹 A Joint Master’s Program in Peace, Justice, and Good Governance (starting 2027)
🔹 PhD training and co-supervised thesis projects (starting 2025)
🔹 Online courses
🔹 Winter and Summer Schools
🔹 Think tanks and conferences
To learn more: https://ec2u.eu/staff/elevate-your-research
VIQE-ES | Virtual Institute for Quality Education – Education Sciences
The Virtual Institute for Quality Education – Education Sciences (VIQE-ES) aims to develop interdisciplinary activities in the field of innovative digital pedagogies.
It brings together students, researchers and innovators in joint activities, which may take the form of training courses, webinars and/or seminars focused on Education Sciences.
Main activities:
🔹 Creation of a database on Innovative Digital Pedagogies (2025)
🔹 Staff training within the Digital Education Lab (2024–2027)
Find out more:
https://ec2u.eu/staff/elevate-your-research
VI LL | Virtual Institute for Life and Land
The Virtual Institute for Life on Land (VI LL) aims to develop interdisciplinary activities within the framework of the UN SDG Life on Land, bringing together students, researchers and innovators in joint activities, which may take the form of joint research as well as webinars and/or seminars.
The VI’s activities stem from a specific focus on three key areas:
🔹 Food Production
🔹 Water Resource Management
🔹 Biodiversity
Find out more:
VI MMSF | Virtual Institute for Materials & Methods for a Sustainable Future
The Virtual Institute for Materials & Methods for a Sustainable Future (VI MMSF) aims to develop interdisciplinary activities on a cross-cutting theme spanning several UN SDGs, bringing together students, researchers and innovators in joint activities, which may take the form of joint research as well as webinars and/or seminars.
The VI’s activities stem from a specific focus on three key areas:
🔹 Advanced materials for energy saving and storage
🔹 Additive manufacturing
🔹 Computer-based methods and/or nature-inspired materials for the materials of the future
Find out more: