ABIS Knowledge Into Action Forum: Brussels, 28-29 April 2015

New Opportunities, New Partnerships to Turn Knowledge Into Action

In recent months, ABIS’ strategy review process has brought two priorities to the fore: (1) the need to build more dynamic bridges between corporate and academic members, and (2) the need to secure more resources to develop and support them.  As a consequence, on April 28-29, we will stage the first yearly event for members to address these challenges: The ABIS "Knowledge Into Action" Forum.   

The Forum will break new ground in advancing our partnership model. It will feature high level insights from the EU Commission, leading foundations and other agencies about new funding opportunities, emerging priorities and themes, processes and key success criteria. We will also develop small-scale workshops in which corporate and academic members connect innovation and ideas, with a view to creating joint proposals for defined resource opportunities in the months that follow.

This new annual event will create a dynamic platform for ABIS members to connect ‘big ideas’ and strategic interests in line with clearly defined funding opportunities for business-academic collaboration. The Forum will be hosted by Vlerick Business School at its state-of-the-art campus in the city centre.

The programme will be divided into two distinct parts. During the first afternoon, members will hear from the European Commission, leading foundations and other actors about emerging priorities and themes linked to business in society and sustainability, as well as in-depth information about key success criteria, impact expectations, and more.

On the second day, participants will be offered a range of small-scale workshops with one main objective: to connect and empower groups of members to start working together on joint funding proposals in the months that follow – whether EU, corporate, foundation or other.

Timeline for Engagement

Below are the major milestones in the build-up to the April Forum:

Participation Fees:

In order to cover a percentage of the costs of staging the Forum, a small registration fee will apply for members and affiliated networks. No fees will apply for corporate and academic partners, in recognition of their higher annual membership fees. 

More Information

The Handbook, including all workshop proposals is available to our Members here.

In case you need help or do not have your login credentials yet, please do not hesitate to contact Anna Ozolina.

Download the Call for Workshop proposals here.

Please email any enquiries about the Knowledge Into Action Forum to Dr. Ludwig Roger or call the Brussels office on +32 (0)2 539 3561.

Frequently Asked Questions - available to download in PDF here.

Overview of Current and Future EU funding schemes - Download a short summary of the most relevant opportunities at EU level, prepared by the ABIS Central Team.