PIONEER+ brings together a dynamic alliance of European higher education institutions, foundations, and innovation experts. Each partner contributes unique strengths to shape institutional transformation, foster entrepreneurial ecosystems, and advance digital capacity in higher education. Together, the consortium will drive systemic change across participating HEIs, ensuring the long-term impact and sustainability of project outcomes across leadership, curricula, partnerships, and innovation support structures.
The Ionian University was founded in 1984 in Greece and it is comprised of five faculties and twelve departments. Its seat is in Corfu, with university units in Lefkada, Kefalonia and Zakynthos. The University aims to contribute to the revival and cultivation of the local intellectual heritage, a heritage partly deriving from the cultural impact of the long-lasting European occupations. It aspires to play a significant academic role as one of the Greek Higher Education Institutions through its educational, scientific and intellectual activities.
Digital Green is a global tech nonprofit organization using the power of generative AI to help small-scale farmers around the world improve their productivity and incomes. We began in 2008 with a farmer-to-farmer video model that transformed agricultural advisory. Today, we develop open sourced, farmer-powered AI tools like FarmerChat, our AI agricultural assistant, that integrate with public systems, respond to local needs, and make climate-smart guidance accessible to farmers via image, voice, and text, in real time, and in their own language.
A.B. Institute of Entrepreneurship Development Ltd. is the result of more than 18 years of operation of the Institute of Entrepreneurship Development (iED) – an awarded organization committed to promoting innovation and enhancing entrepreneurial spirit in all aspects of the economy, including education. The primary aim of A.B. iED Ltd. is to help clients identify their needs and develop targeting strategies and tailored action plans to sustain business success.
Lazarski University (UŁa) is one of the highest-ranked private universities in Poland, renowned for excellence in economics, management, law, and administration. Founded by Ryszard Łazarski, the university combines over 30 years of academic experience with roots reaching back to the 1950s. With more than 43,000 graduates and students from over 50 countries, Lazarski is a truly international institution. It is recognized for its high standards in education, earning prestigious accolades from organizations such as U-Multirank, CEEMAN International Accreditation, and top placements in Perspektywy and Rzeczpospolita rankings. Committed to student success beyond the classroom, Lazarski offers business-oriented programs, internship opportunities, and initiatives that help prepare graduates for dynamic and adventurous careers.
RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau is a dynamic and forward-thinking institution, home to around 17,000 students, 300 professors, and offering over 160 degree programs. Formed through the merger of TU Kaiserslautern and the University in Landau in 2023, RPTU stands as a hub of top-tier international research and academic excellence. Known as a talent incubator for business, science, and society, the university provides a vibrant, cosmopolitan environment where students and researchers address the pressing challenges of today while shaping a better future. With a strong commitment to scientific integrity, societal responsibility, and the well-being of its community, RPTU offers clear structures, short communication paths, and a family-friendly, health-conscious campus culture. It is not only a place of learning but a place of opportunity, growth, and innovation at the cutting edge of global science and education.
The University of Haute-Alsace (UHA) is a forward-looking institution with over 40 years of history, serving approximately 11,000 students across five campuses in Mulhouse and Colmar. With more than 13 research centers, four faculties, two Institutes of Technology, and two renowned engineering schools dating back to the 19th century, UHA blends academic tradition with modern innovation. Known for its strong ties to industry and professional training, UHA has one of the highest apprenticeship rates in France and graduates around 3,000 students annually. Over 20% of its students come from abroad, with international PhD candidates making up more than half of their cohort. UHA is deeply integrated into European academic networks, offering bi– and tri-national programs through the Eucor – The European Campus alliance, and maintains global partnerships with over 150 universities, including within the EPICUR alliance—making it a truly international and professionally oriented university.
The University of Trier, with around 11,100 students, is a vibrant institution that blends tradition with modernity, international outlook with regional connection. Situated on the scenic edge of Germany but at the heart of Europe, it offers an award-winning green campus renowned for its stunning views, modern architecture, and distinctive atmosphere—often considered one of the most beautiful in the country. As a member of the University of the Greater Region, Trier University provides unique cross-border opportunities for study and research, allowing students and staff to engage academically across institutions in Metz, Nancy, Luxembourg, Liège, Kaiserslautern, and Saarbrücken, making it a hub of European academic collaboration.
The Warsaw University of Life Sciences is origins dating back to 1816. The school is a thriving academic center, receiving recognition and unflagging interest among young people and teaching staff in Poland and abroad, valued for its care for the quality of education, faithfulness to the best university traditions, openness to change, and dynamic development.
