International Knowledge Exchange: RIS4SEB Project Partners Explored Research and Innovation Management at KTU

The School of Economics and Business at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) is actively implementing the Horizon Europe project Enhancing Research and Innovation Synergies for Schools of Economics and Business (RIS4SEB), which aims to strengthen research and innovation ecosystems in business schools and enhance their competitiveness within the European Research Area.

The project brings together Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania), Prague University of Economics and Business (Czech Republic), Estonian Business School (Estonia), and Bocconi University (Italy). As one of Europe’s leading business schools, Bocconi serves as a mentor institution, sharing best practices and expertise with the consortium partners.

Over the course of three years, the consortium is developing and testing strategies in the areas of internationalisation, human resource development, and research management. These strategies are designed to help business schools in Lithuania, the Czech Republic, and Estonia become more actively engaged in international research networks, increase participation in European projects, strengthen research management capacities, and foster research and innovation excellence.

One of the project’s key work packages focuses on strengthening the competencies of research managers. To achieve this objective, the consortium organises international job-shadowing visits, training activities, and knowledge-exchange initiatives among partner institutions.

On 16–17 June 2026, Kaunas University of Technology hosted a RIS4SEB Job Shadowing visit, welcoming research managers and academic representatives from Prague University of Economics and Business and Estonian Business School. During the visit, participants gained first-hand insight into KTU’s research management practices, research infrastructure, and successful interdisciplinary research centres.

The visit began with a meeting with Prof. Dr. Edita Gimžauskienė, Vice-Rector for Strategic Partnerships at KTU. Participants then visited the School of Economics and Business, where they were introduced to the faculty’s research management system, centres of excellence, and research groups.

The programme included presentations of the Digital Healthcare Innovation Research Group, the Centre of Excellence for Economic Transformations, and the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Management. Within the latter, participants learned about the activities of the Consumer Behaviour Research Group and the Corporate and Human Sustainability Research Group, as well as their contribution to international research and innovation projects.

On the second day, the delegation visited KTU Santaka Valley, where they explored the activities of the KTU Artificial Intelligence Excellence Centre and the National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre (NIEC). Particular attention was given to research management processes, international project management, innovation commercialisation, and the development of interdisciplinary collaboration.

As part of RIS4SEB, a series of training activities has already been delivered and additional workshops are planned on topics such as motivating and supporting researchers, management of international research and innovation projects, knowledge transfer, open science, science communication, and combating misinformation and disinformation. These activities contribute to increasing the visibility and societal impact of research while strengthening evidence-based policymaking.

The project aims to train at least 30 research managers and 100 researchers and PhD students, creating a lasting impact on the research and innovation capacities of the participating institutions.

The project is coordinated in Lithuania by Prof. Dr. Asta Savanevičienė from the School of Economics and Business at Kaunas University of Technology.

RIS4SEB is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme. However, the views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.