The ATHENA 2020 – 2023 project is a significant initiative that the University of Maribor actively participated in as a full partner, co-financed by the European Union under the Erasmus+ program. ATHENA, which stands for Advanced Technology Higher Education Network Alliance, is one of the 41 European universities selected in 2021 under this program.
The main goal of the European university initiative was to establish strategic and sustainable cooperation among higher education institutions for the benefit of students, academic and research staff, and society at large. The founding members of the ATHENA European University are medium-sized universities from seven European countries: France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Germany, Portugal, and Slovenia.
The University of Maribor was actively involved in all nine work packages of ATHENA, with a particular focus on research and development activities. The university led the Research and Development work package, aiming to create a comprehensive research environment for partner institutions to collaborate on joint projects and contribute to the strategic goals of the European Higher Education and Research Area. Notable achievements of this work package include the development of a research and development collaboration model, an online hub for researchers, a directory of shared resources and research capacities, and the ATHENA Research Book series.
The research and development collaboration model defines key activities, collaboration, and mutual understanding to support partner institutions in their efforts for collective progress in research and development. The shared resources and research capacities directory brings together the research capabilities of ATHENA partners, facilitating coordination among various research stakeholders to achieve common goals and accelerate scientific efforts.
The ATHENA Research Book series showcases joint and interdisciplinary research projects by experienced and young researchers, contributing to the development of innovative capabilities among participating partners. Additionally, the University of Maribor actively engaged in all other areas of the ATHENA project, such as higher and lifelong education, industry collaboration, knowledge transfer, international cooperation and mobility, and dissemination and communication with various stakeholders.
The project also focused on governance, internationalization, education, innovation, industry collaboration, events, and initiatives. The University of Maribor played a key role in organizing and participating in various ATHENA events and initiatives aimed at the wider community, such as ATHENA Talks, European Researchers‘ Night, World Intellectual Property Day, and activities promoting gender equality and inclusion.
Overall, the ATHENA project has significantly contributed to the European higher education and research landscape, establishing a strong brand and becoming a permanent fixture in the European educational and research space. The University of Maribor’s active involvement and contributions have been instrumental in the success and impact of the ATHENA initiative, showcasing the university’s commitment to excellence in research, education, and innovation.