Ulysseus key achievements highlighted by the European Commission

The European Commission recently published the Report on the outcomes and transformational potential of the European Universities initiative (Grumbinaitė, Colus & Buitrago Carvajal 2025). The report presents the progress, achievements, and challenges faced by the 41 European Universities alliances selected under the Erasmus+ 2019 and 2020 calls.

Among the successful cases featured, the Ulysseus Innovation Hubs and key projects are identified as exemplary achievements that can serve as a model for other alliances and higher education institutions outside the European University Initiative.

Innovation Hubs (IH) as vital centres for collaboration and regional development

The report references the Ulysseus Innovation Hubs as a joint structure for collaboration, addressing research and development challenges shared in the regions and cities within the alliance. The hubs connect the alliance and associated partners to foster close collaboration through a co-design approach, which supports co-creation and multi-stakeholder and citizen engagement.

The Ulysseus Innovation Hubs are structured to be more than just physical locations. They are dynamic centres for developing joint challenge-driven, transdisciplinary programmes and combining RDI and learning activities with a focus on involving students as part of the activities. Each hub incorporates or is actively developing, joint research groups, an incubator for spin-offs, a living lab, and open class spaces.

Haaga-Helia exemplifies this approach by hosting the Applied AI for Business and Education Innovation Hub. The hub is dedicated to promoting the use of applied AI tools and methods to address current challenges and provides an impact-producing platform for Haaga-Helia’s AI-themed RDI projects, curriculum and innovation ecosystem.

The participation of Haaga-Helia’s Applied AI for Business and Education Innovation Hub, in the Finnish AI Region (FAIR) consortium, recognised as a European Digital Innovation Hub, underscores its role in providing expertise and services to local companies in their digital transformations.

Projects demonstrating synergies and impact

The ALFA Labs and CURATE projects illustrate the critical role of these innovation hubs as key assets within the Ulysseus alliance. These projects effectively demonstrate how the IH structure can be used to maximise synergies and impact.

ALFA Labs, coordinated by Haaga-Helia, concentrates on creating a digital transformation plan (DTP) for higher education institutions (HEIs) utilising AI. In addition, the project develops a living lab within the innovation hub, as a platform to test the role of AI in learning environments through the interaction of teachers and students as they test various AI tools. ALFA Labs is designed to boost digital capabilities in HEIs, particularly focusing on AI as an assistive and accessible technology. The co-creation of the project involves transdisciplinary teams from Ulysseus partner institutions which host an Innovation Hub, further demonstrating the hub’s pivotal role.

CURATE, also with Haaga-Helia’s leadership, is focused on the inclusion of migrant students in entrepreneurial studies. It utilises AI as a core component to develop an international incubator programme tailored to the needs of the Ulysseus Innovation ecosystem. The project aims to equip the students with fresh perspectives on entrepreneurship and the role of AI in the field. Like ALFA Labs, CURATE’s activities are designed to integrate within the existing frameworks of the Innovation Hubs, using the hubs’ physical spaces for student incubator group meetings.

Both CURATE and ALFA Labs underscore the interconnected nature of the Ulysseus network. The projects rely on the existing Ulysseus digital infrastructure, such as the Ulysseus Moodle platform for MOOCs and MS Teams for collaborative efforts. The projects also use Ulysseus dissemination channels to ensure that results are widely accessible. Moreover, both projects highlight the significance of open access, sustainability and scalability, ensuring the long-term impact of their outputs, extending beyond the project timelines.

Additionally, the report pays special attention to the Ulysseus MOB4ALL project, which aims to promote the transnational mobility of students with special needs. This initiative is highlighted in the report as an example of how alliances enhance internationalisation to make it more inclusive and accessible to students facing physical mobility challenges. The report also notes that Ulysseus created the Elderlies’ Internationalisation Programme, offering courses to the elderly community, as another example of inclusivity.

Ulysseus innovation hubs central in achieving the vision

In essence, the Ulysseus Innovation Hubs act as crucial points for promoting collaboration, innovation, and regional development within the European University alliance. They offer vital physical and strategic support for projects like MOB4ALL, ALFA Labs and CURATE, showcasing their integral role in advancing the alliance’s objectives.

Through the IHs, Ulysseus not only tackles specific research challenges but also encourages citizen involvement, technological advancement, and a more robust, interconnected European higher education environment. Haaga-Helia’s work, particularly through its Applied AI for Business and Education Innovation Hub, illustrates how these hubs can become pivotal assets that support both institutional development and lead to achieve the Ulysseus vision.

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