EELISA Communities are where ideas turn into impact. Across Europe, students, researchers, academics and external partners are joining forces to tackle real societal challenges through collaboration, creativity and innovation. These Communities are not only transforming higher education — they are building new ways of learning, connecting and creating change together.

Now, for the first time, the Alliance is bringing this vibrant ecosystem together through the First EELISA Communities Forum 2026: From Connection to Impact : an inspiring hybrid event designed to spark new collaborations, showcase transformative initiatives and shape the future of EELISA Communities across Europe.

Even if you cannot travel to Madrid, you can still be part of this exciting conversation. Remote participants are invited to join the online morning sessions on 18 May 2026 from 9:30 to 13:00 (Madrid time) and experience first-hand the energy, ideas and people driving the EELISA ecosystem forward.

Institutional Opening of the Week

The EELISA Communities Forum will be the kick-start event of a week full of EELISA at UPM, coinciding with the EELISA Governace Meetings and the EELISA Scientifc Student  Competition. This grand programme will be open by UPM’s Rector Óscar García, UPM’s Vice Rector for Internationalisation Luis Salgado, EELISA Executive Director Sofia D’Aguiar, ETSAM’s Director Javier Francisco Raposo and PSL’s Deputy Head of Internatonal Relation, Camille Roger.

Keynote Dialogue

This will be followed by an inspirational Dialogue: EELISA Communities as innovation and impact labs linking education, research and society by Supriya Singh, expert in corporate sustainability strategy, governance, partnership approaches and creating impact at scale, as well as Chair for Corporate Sustainability Management at FAU. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage directly through a live Q&A moderated by Óscar Santos-Sopena, specialist in cultural studies, digital humanities and intercultural communication, and Associate to the Vice-Rector for Inclusion and Societal Commitment at UPM.

The event will continue with a dynamic best practices session showcasing inspiring pitches from EELISA Communities across the Alliance. Participants will discover innovative projects, collaborative methodologies and impactful experiences demonstrating how Communities are creating meaningful change in education, research and society.

Best Practices Session

–  EELISA Community The Regenerative Campus – with Ruth Carrasco( UPM), exploring innovative approaches to sustainability, regenerative practices and campus transformation through collaborative initiatives and interdisciplinary engagement.

– EELISA Community Archaeology and Architecture – with Chiara Canneva (SNS) & Elsa Margin-Hamon (PSL), with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration between archaeology and architecture to explore, preserve and reinterpret cultural heritage through research, education and innovative design approaches.

 – Circular EELISA Community –  with Imge Akcakaya Waite (ITU), Justo García Navarro & Antonia Pacios (UPM) – Presenting the Urban Roots project, focusing on stakeholder engagement and community-driven approaches to urban sustainability, highlighting how collaborative participation can support circular practices and local impact.

–  EELISA Zero Waste– with Dilara Acar (ITU). presenting one of the EELISA Student-Led Communities, focusing on the promotion of an environmentally-friendly lifestyle, sharing sustainable living principles.

– EELISA Community SSERIES – with Maria Jesús Vazquez Gallo (UPM), presenting their contribution to strengthening collaboration, knowledge exchange and social impact across the EELISA ecosystem, with a particular focus on how interdisciplinary cooperation can generate sustainable and scalable solutions to societal challenges.

– Engineering Culture – With David Seyers & Steve Brown (ENPC) – showcasing their impact while promoting both practical and research-oriented intersections between engineering and the humanities.

By joining online, participants will have the opportunity to:

– Discover groundbreaking initiatives and success stories from across the EELISA Alliance

– Gain inspiration from innovative approaches to collaboration, sustainability and societal impact

– Exchange perspectives on shared challenges and emerging opportunities

– Connect with engaged peers, experts and institutional actors from across Europe

– Become part of a growing European network committed to innovation, inclusion and positive change

More than just an online event, the Forum is a gateway into one of Europe’s most dynamic collaborative ecosystems: a space where ideas meet action and connections lead to impact.

Registration for online participation is available through the EELISA Digital Campus.

WHEN 

Online, on 18 May, from 9:30 to 13

WHERE

Oline via zoom – A link will be sent after registration

APPLICATION

Still open via digital campus