From October 22nd to the 24th, the ACE²-EU Alliance Annual Congress took place in Ingolstadt, Germany, bringing together students, lecturers, researchers, and higher education leaders from all partner institutions, including representatives from Lietuvos inžinerijos kolegija (LIK).

Throughout the meetings, participants discussed the alliance’s strategic directions, presented achieved results and planned future actions, and strengthened collaboration among partners.

Main Meetings:

External Stakeholders’ Board and Rectors & Presidents Steering Group Meeting

A significant strategic meeting was held on October 22nd, gathering the alliance’s rectors, general director, vice-presidents, and 27 ESAB members (representatives from regional authorities, the business sector, and cultural organizations).
Discussions focused on assessing the alliance’s impact and shaping its future vision, emphasizing the importance of integrating academia, industry, and society in addressing Europe’s sustainability and innovation challenges.

Management Board Meeting

On October 22nd, the Management Board convened, bringing together the general director, project coordinators, and representatives of alliance members.
The meeting reviewed progress in implementing work plans, discussed achieved results, challenges, and strategic next steps.
Participants also conducted a detailed review of the work package activities and discussed the creation of a new legal structure to ensure the alliance’s long-term sustainability.

Alliance Working Group Meetings:

• WP7 F2F Meeting (October 21st): discussions focused on the guidelines for establishing the new ACE²-EU institution, its governance model, and strategic vision, aimed at ensuring long-term cooperation and financial stability.

• WP5 F2F Meeting (October 21st): interdisciplinary working groups were formed to begin work on regulatory barrier analysis, data protection and ethics issues, and defining technological solutions.

Student Advisory Board (SAB) Meeting

On October 22nd, student representatives from all alliance universities discussed their role in alliance governance, improvements to the learning environment, and student engagement.
A new SAB Chair was elected, and recommendations were developed to be forwarded to the alliance’s highest governing bodies.

Staff Advisory Board (STAB) Meeting

The Staff Advisory Board discussed issues related to collaboration, communication, and working conditions, aiming to ensure smooth alliance operations and enhanced staff engagement.