More than 70 academics and researchers from the University of Turin took part in the event “UniTo Research Community in UNITA: Outcomes and Impact of the Starting Grants”, held on 16 June at the Rectorate of the University of Turin.
The initiative aimed to highlight how the activities and opportunities offered by the UNITA Alliance are contributing to the creation of a genuine international scientific community, bringing together researchers from different countries and disciplines around shared research interests and common challenges.
The event was opened by Professor Luisella Celi, Vice-Rector for Research, and Professor Alessandra Fiorio Pla, Rector’s Delegate for the UNITA Alliance.
The morning session focused on the presentation of 14 UNITA Starting Grant projects developed over the last three years. Principal Investigators illustrated the objectives, results, and future perspectives of their projects, with particular attention to the international collaborations established through UNITA and the added value generated by working with colleagues from partner universities across Europe.
A poster session during the networking lunch offered participants the opportunity to discover over 40 Starting Grant projects and exchange experiences in an informal setting. This moment highlighted the diversity of research topics addressed through the programme and the growing interest of the University of Turin research community in international collaborative initiatives.
The afternoon was dedicated to thematic focus groups organised as a World Café. Participants discussed in 4 working groups project outputs, the development of international research networks, future collaboration opportunities within UNITA, engagement with territorial stakeholders, and strategies for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the partnerships established through the grants.
Throughout the discussions, one message emerged clearly: by supporting the creation of international teams and encouraging researchers to explore new forms of cooperation, the Starting grants programme has become an effective tool for strengthening the international dimension of research in partner Universities and for fostering a shared sense of belonging within the UNITA Alliance.
The event demonstrated that UNITA is not only creating opportunities for collaboration but is also helping to build a lasting European research community based on trust, exchange, and scientific excellence.
