Led by Saxion University of Applied Sciences, the E³UDRES² Centre of Excellence titled Business Modelling for Managing Sustainability in Circular, Climate-Neutral Economy addresses urgent societal and industrial challenges by developing innovative business models for the transition to circular and climate-neutral economies.
The Centre brings together all nine E³UDRES² member institutions to:
- design sustainable business model frameworks using a quadruple-helix approach (industry, academia, government, society);
- stimulate practice-oriented R&D through real-life cases with local, regional, and national partners;
- integrate these methods into education and strengthen alliance-wide research capacity.
Results and impact
Although established less than a year ago, the Centre has achieved significant outcomes:
- €90,000 in subsidies for six COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) projects involving eight partners
- A €800,000 proposal for Smart Data for Eco-Design and Eco-Governance
- Initiation of EU-funded projects, including a €6 million Interreg North West Europe project (step 2 approval, 98% success chance).
Academic and infrastructure achievements include:
- Guest lectures and co-developed educational programmes
- Publications in Q1 journals and a planned Springer case study book on Circular Economy and Business Models (2026)
- A dedicated digital hub and a Business Model Lab linking best practices across partners.
These efforts strengthen E³UDRES²’s research profile and position the alliance as a frontrunner in sustainable business model innovation for smart, resilient regions.
Lessons learned
Building a European Centre of Excellence within the E³UDRES² alliance successfully demonstrated how Universities of Applied Sciences can strengthen their collective research profile and excellence in applied research. What worked particularly well was the ability to pool regional strengths into a joint European profile and to connect education, research, and innovation ecosystems across borders. However, challenges encountered include balancing institutional diversity and ensuring long-term sustainability.
Learn more
More information about the initiative can be found on the E³UDRES² website.
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