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As a HEROES researcher, you gain access to a European hub that connects diverse expertise and regions. You can collaborate on joint projects, co-publish, and tackle societal challenges with partners across disciplines and countries. This broadens your research impact, increases visibility, and creates opportunities for funding and innovation that go far beyond a single institution.
Research is structured through thematic Research PODs that bring together experts from nine institutions. Each POD focuses on real challenges faced by our regions — from agriculture and food to wellbeing, circular economy, digital transformation, education, inclusion, and regional development. These groups offer a simple way for researchers to connect, exchange insights, and collaborate on applied research.
The alliance currently works within several thematic PODs: Agriculture and Food, Care and Wellbeing, Circular Economy, Digital Transformation, Education, Learning and Inclusion, and Regional Development. These areas reflect real needs identified across partner regions.
By bringing together expertise from different countries and disciplines, PODs allow researchers to compare regional situations, identify shared challenges, and explore coordinated responses. This collaborative structure supports a broader understanding of issues that affect multiple regions.
Researchers will be able to join POD meetings, contribute expertise within their thematic area, and participate in exploring joint ideas or preparing collaborative projects. PODs also provide opportunities to work with external partners such as companies, public authorities, NGOs, and schools on regionally relevant topics.
Eva Brooks, Professor in Digital Learning at Halmstad University, is part of the HEROES Pod Learning, Education and Inclusion, where the focus is on identifying common ground for collaborative research projects and funding opportunities.
For Sanna Joensuu-Salo, Principal Lecturer (Research) at SEAMK, working within the HEROES alliance has expanded both the scope and impact of research by bringing together expertise from different countries, disciplines, and institutional contexts.
The HEROES Virtual Campus is currently under development. Access will be enabled here as soon as the platform goes live.
