The Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU) has officially launched its participation in the international project BRITE-EU – Boosting R&I Talent Interoperability and Employability in Europe, funded under the Horizon Europe programme. Two CTU units are involved in the project: the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics (CIIRC CTU) and the Masaryk Institute of Advanced Studies (MIAS CTU). The CIIRC CTU team includes Lenka Lhotská and Michal Huptych, both from the Department of Cognitive Systems and Neuroscience.
The BRITE-EU project aims to strengthen the skills and competences of research and innovation (R&I) professionals through systematic collaboration and knowledge exchange between academia and industry. BRITE-EU is based on the quadruple-helix model, which connects researchers, businesses, and policymakers within functional innovation ecosystems. This approach fosters cross-sector cooperation and supports a faster transfer of results into practice.
Among the project’s expected impacts are reducing brain drain, promoting gender equality and equal opportunities, and increasing the attractiveness of so-called Widening countries (countries with lower research and innovation performance) as promising environments for top research and innovation talent.
The BRITE-EU project was launched in January 2026 and formally kicked off with a consortium meeting held in Porto, Portugal, attended by all project partners. The meeting focused on aligning the project’s objectives, planned activities, and collaboration management across individual work packages, laying a solid foundation for effective coordination of international cooperation.
BRITE-EU brings together 11 partners from across Europe, forming a strong international consortium that connects universities, research organizations, and innovation centers. The project is coordinated by the University of Porto and aims to strengthen research and innovation capacities in so-called Widening countries by enhancing employability and supporting talent interoperability in research and innovation, with a particular focus on digital health.
CTU’s involvement, together with CIIRC and MIAS, reaffirms the university’s long-term commitment to actively contributing to the development of the European Research Area, fostering international collaboration, and advancing innovation with meaningful societal impact.
