The project “Regional Universities as Catalysts for Economic Development: Their Role in Fostering Knowledge, Innovation, and Graduate Employment” aims to strengthen the collaborative ties between two universities with shared research interests and challenges in Greece and Norway: the University of the Aegean and the University of Applied Sciences of Western Norway. The project focuses on exchanging experiences, expertise, and best practices on the role of non-central/regional universities in reshaping their innovation ecosystems and creating employment opportunities for graduates at the regional level.

The proposed bilateral cooperation will be implemented through the following activities:

1. Review of the Current Landscape: Assessing the role of regional universities as knowledge providers, while identifying the drivers, barriers, and constraints young graduates face when choosing residence and employment in regional areas. This will focus on the experiences of the two regions under study: the Greek North Aegean region and Vestland, Norway.
2. Study Visits to Norway: Greek participants will visit Norway to engage in meetings and exchange good practices with their Norwegian counterparts and other regional stakeholders. This will provide an opportunity to observe recent developments in the regional innovation ecosystem in Vestland and share knowledge on support mechanisms and internship programs that help place students and graduates in the region.
3. Final Workshop in Greece: A concluding workshop will bring together representatives from both Norway and Greece, along with regional policymakers, businesses, local government, and civil society. The workshop will focus on exchanging knowledge and experiences on how regional higher education institutions can contribute to regional innovation and development.
4. Formulation of Policy Proposals: The project will develop policy recommendations on how Greek partners can foster co-creation processes between education, research, and innovation. These proposals aim to increase the local impact of the University of the Aegean’s research output in the Aegean Archipelago and capitalize on the entrepreneurial dynamism of young graduates.