CITADELS

CITADELS – Cultivating Industry 5.0 Talents: Academia-industry collaboration and empowerment through accessible DEep technoLogieS

CITADELS aims to transform seven Widening countries into strongholds of human-centric Industry 5.0 development. The project brings together a consortium of 10 partners from 9 countries, including leading academic institutions, DeepTech companies, and a science and technology park, where academia and industry converge to drive innovation.

Supported by two EU-leading organisations in stakeholder engagement and responsible innovation, CITADELS fosters cross-sectoral collaboration to create sustainable DeepTech careers aligned with the European Commission’s roadmap on human-centric research and innovation in manufacturing.

The project responds to the growing demand for DeepTech expertise by aligning academic excellence with industry needs, involving 20 research talents and 20 R&I support talents in cross-sectoral secondments and structured training. CITADELS enhances talent circulation, supports the adoption of advanced technologies, and strengthens regional innovation ecosystems.

By translating research into high-value industrial applications, CITADELS positions Widening countries as competitive players in the global DeepTech landscape and contributes to regional economic resilience, the modernisation of local industries, and the creation of high-value jobs.

Partnership: The project is coordinated by the University of Belgrade – School of Electrical Engineering (RS) and brings together a multidisciplinary consortium of partners from nine countries. Each institution contributes unique expertise to advance the project's mission of building an inclusive and impactful European innovation ecosystem.

The partners include:
University of Belgrade – School of Electrical Engineering (RS), University of Patras (GR), NOVA IMS (PT), Corvinus University of Budapest (HU), Pomurje Technology Park (SI), Tecnalia Serbia (RS), Industrial Automation Tuzla (BA), XR Institute (CZ), Conoscenza e Innovazione (IT), and EIT Manufacturing East (AT).

NOVA IMS plays a central role in building the research support capacity needed to strengthen human-centric DeepTech ecosystems. It leads the design and implementation of a comprehensive training programme for 20 R&I Support Talents, covering core profiles such as infrastructure operators, grant managers, knowledge valorisation specialists, and RRI experts. This includes coordinating four thematic academies that combine online and hands-on learning with secondments across academic and industrial environments.

NOVA IMS also contributes its advanced AI and data science infrastructure to support applied research and the exploitation of DeepTech TestBeds. The institution is actively involved in mentoring and career development for research and support talents, participating in activities that promote institutional transformation, inclusive governance, and the long-term integration of talent into regional innovation ecosystems.

Furthermore, NOVA IMS supports the ideation and evaluation of research initiatives proposed by project participants and contributes to the organisation of outreach actions such as DeepTech Days. Through these efforts, NOVA IMS helps to ensure that project results translate into sustainable practices, enhanced talent circulation, and strengthened research environments across all participating countries.

Funding programme: Horizon Europe – WIDERA – ERA Talents
Funding to NOVA IMS: €412,812.50
Duration: 2025 – 2029
Website: under construction