The INVEST Centre of Excellence Steering Board meets for the first time
On Tuesday, 1st April 2025, the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne hosted online the first meeting of the INVEST Centre of Excellence Steering Board (CoESB).
The aim of this first meeting was to kick-off the work of the CoESB by introducing the board members to each other, appointing the chair and the two deputy chairs, and approving the INVEST Centre of Excellence Executive Committee protocol.
Who is part of the INVEST Centre of Excellence Steering Board?
The CoESB is the decision-making body supporting the implementation of activities towards an excellent R&I. It is composed of 19 permanent members. The members with voting rights include the seven vice-rectors for research and innovation from each partner university:
- Prof Drahoslav Lančarič, Vice-Rector for Science & Research at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra
- Prof Dimitar Yakimov, Vice-Rector at the University of Agribusiness & Rural Development in Plovdiv
- Prof Anne Ilvonen, Director for Research, Development & Innovation at the Karelia University of Applied Sciences
- Prof Maria José Polo, Vice-Rector of Scientific Policy at the University of Cordoba
- Prof Salvatore Torrisi, Vice-Rector for Research Valorisation & Technology Transfer at the University of Milano-Bicocca
- Prof Lilian Joly, Vice-Rector of the Research Commission at the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA)
- The Vice-Rector from the University of Thessaly is to be appointed.
This Board is also composed of the seven INVEST local coordinators, as well as representatives from the INVEST Student Board, the INVEST Academic Board, the INVEST Advisory Board, and the INVEST Centre of Excellence Executive Committee. Additional members without voting rights include: the INVEST Centre of Excellence Manager, the coordinator of the INVEST Centre of Excellence Taskforce on Funding Opportunities, and the president of the EXEBIO Institute.
Appointment of the chair and deputy chairs
To ensure the effective operation of the INVEST Centre of Excellence, a chair was appointed to lead the strategic direction of the Centre, oversee its activities and the allocation of resources, and ensure alignment with the Centre’s overarching goals. The work of the chair is supported by two deputy chairs, who assist in leadership duties and help maintain continuity within the Centre.
During this meeting, three vice-rectors presented their candidate profiles and were unanimously appointed for the respective positions:
• Prof Lilian Joly will act as the chair of the CoESB for the period of April 2025 to March 2027, and
• Prof Maria José Polo and Prof Salvatore Torrisi will act as the two deputy chairs of the CoESB for the period of April 2025 to March 2026.
These appointments were approved by the Rector’s Assembly in Cordoba (Spain) on April 9th, 2025.
Approval of the INVEST Centre of Excellence Executive Committee protocol
The INVEST Centre of Excellence Executive Committee (CoEEC) is composed of 17 permanent members, including the 14 principal investigators co-leading the work of the Centre’s research clusters, the coordinator of the Taskforce on Funding Opportunities, the coordinator of the Taskforce on Networking Opportunities, and the INVEST Centre of Excellence Manager.
The CoEEC is responsible for implementing the decisions of the CoESB and translating its strategic orientations into concrete actions. The committee is also responsible for supervising the day-to-day activities of the INVEST Centre of Excellence and ensures the coordination between the seven research clusters and the stakeholders.
The CoEEC protocol was unanimously approved during this first CoESB meeting by all the voting members present.
