The Design, Media and Culture Research Institute (ID+), at the Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave (UPCA), will coordinate TIDER, a project funded by the Horizon Europe programme under the Twinning initiative, with a total budget of €1.5 million. Running for 36 months, TIDER will strengthen the scientific capacity and international profile of ID+ UPCA, consolidating its position as a European reference in Design research for innovation and the sustainable transformation of territories.
Selected through a highly competitive call with a success rate of just 11%, the project brings together an international consortium comprising three partners from the RUN-EU European University Alliance: NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands), Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) (Ireland), and Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) (Finland). These institutions are internationally recognised for their expertise in developing innovation ecosystems supported by Design Factories.
TIDER aims to strengthen the scientific excellence of ID+ UPCA through knowledge transfer, researcher capacity building, and the creation of an innovative collaboration model involving universities, businesses, public institutions and local communities. Positioning Design as a driver of innovation, the project will develop a comprehensive framework integrating research methodologies, governance models and impact assessment tools, fostering more collaborative, sustainable and challenge-driven innovation ecosystems.
Over the course of the three-year project, TIDER will deliver international mobility programmes, advanced training activities, workshops and co-creation initiatives among the project partners, promoting knowledge exchange and the adoption of European best practices. The framework developed will be tested in real-world settings, with a particular focus on the textile and fashion sectors, as well as the cultural and audiovisual industries—areas of strategic importance to the region.
According to Paula Tavares, Vice-Rector and Director of ID+ UPCA, and Project Coordinator:
“The approval of TIDER marks a highly significant milestone for ID+ UPCA, reinforcing its position within the European Design research landscape and strengthening the internationalisation of our research centre. Collaboration with leading partners from the RUN-EU alliance will enable us to adopt and further develop international best practices, creating and strengthening methodologies and experimental environments that will foster innovation through Design and contribute to addressing societal challenges more effectively.”
By strengthening the links between research, innovation and regional development, TIDER will further establish ID+ UPCA as a European centre of excellence in Design.
The full news article is available on the UPCA website: https://ipca.pt/noticia/upca-coordena-projeto-europeu-de-15-milhoes-de-euros-para-impulsionar-a-inovacao-atraves-do-design/
