Research projects

Innovation

for smart Europe

ECIU research is team-based, and the universities work closely with partners from industry, government and civil society. This article discusses various examples that make an impact on society.
 

Text: Editorial team 
Photo: Tampere University

Tampere University (coordinator); University of Stavanger, University of Aveiro,
University of Twente, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, University of Trento

NEXT-UP: Supporting youth transitions in post-COVID Europe

Since January 2025, Tampere University has been coordinating the EU-funded Horizon Europe project NEXT-UP under the leadership of Prof. Yuzhuo Cai (initially the Principal Investigator and currently the Co-Investigator following his transition to The Education University of Hong Kong in April 2025) and Prof. Jussi Kivistö (current Principal Investigator). This 3.5-year initiative tackles one of Europe’s most pressing challenges: helping young people navigate the transition from education to employment in the wake of COVID-19.

Although youth unemployment has declined over the past decade, it remains double the adult rate, while the share of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET) still exceeds EU targets. The pandemic worsened these inequalities, leading to growing skills mismatches and risks of social exclusion. With each excluded young person potentially costing society up to €1.2 million, the stakes are high for Europe’s social and economic future.

NEXT-UP aims to generate real impact by co-developing actionable solutions with youth, policymakers, educators, and employers. Using innovative tools—such as Living Labs, machine learning, and foresight modelling—the project will identify emerging skills gaps, create typologies of education-to-work transitions, and deliver evidence-based, future-proof policy recommendations. 

The project brings together a consortium of eleven partners from nine European countries, including eight universities (six of which are part of the ECIU network), one private association, one student union, and one UN-affiliated intergovernmental organisation, supported by an international advisory board.