Digital Pathways to Sustainability: Fostering AI-Driven Collaboration Across Europe
On May 13, 2025, the “Digital Pathways to Sustainability: 2025–2026 Calls – Smart Cities and AI” event brought together researchers, innovators, and policymakers from across Europe to Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) for a dynamic day of exchange, partnership building, and future-focused dialogue. Co-hosted by three key initiatives – SustAInLivWork, SmartWins, and EDIH4LT – the event served as a launchpad for new collaborative projects aligned with Horizon Europe’s Cluster 4 programme.
Held at KTU’s III building, the event welcomed participants from academia, industry, and public institutions working at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability, and digital transformation. Particular attention was given to the development of AI-driven societal change – key area of interest within the SustAInLivWork Centre of Excellence.
Horizon Europe and the Power of Preparation
The day opened with welcoming remarks highlighting the critical importance of European collaboration, followed by a keynote presentation (TBC) from Anna Katrami of the European Commission’s Health and Digital Executive Agency.
Deividas Petrulevičius, Lithuanian National Contact Point for digital technologies, presented upcoming Horizon Europe opportunities, encouraging attendees to prepare early, learn from feedback, and adopt a strategic mindset.
In a dedicated session, Prof. Dr Agnė Paulauskaitė-Tarasevičienė, Manager of the SustAInLivWork project, outlined the project’s ambition to shape AI solutions with tangible impact: “It’s not enough to have a good idea – even if it aligns with the European Union priorities. Sometimes you need success simply because there are many good proposals. Sometimes you win, sometimes not.”
Her message echoed the spirit of SustAInLivWork – a project rooted in interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, and long-term societal benefit. She emphasized that behind every line of text and every deliverable lies a broader ambition: to connect minds across disciplines, to foster sustainable change, and to shape the way we live and work in the future.
“It’s about creating frameworks that endure – systems that support people, communities, and the planet for years to come”, she noted.
From Idea to Impact: Lessons in Collaboration
One of the event’s focal points was the panel discussion on European collaboration best practices, featuring seasoned researchers, project leaders, and national experts.
Dr Paris Fokaides (KTU) underscored the intense and competitive nature of project proposal development, advocating for rigorous preparation, resilience, and reverse engineering: “I envision the result after five years – what should be the long-term impact of the project? If you make this kind of planning, everything starts falling into place. Then, we go backward – reverse engineering.”
He also emphasized the importance of evaluating potential partners’ real capacities: “Of course, you don’t just take any partner you meet. You go back, do your research: look into how many projects they’ve done, see their track record. Brokerage events can help you find the right people – if you know where and how to look.”
Meanwhile, Prof. Dr Paulauskaitė-Tarasevičienė shared practical insights on partner scouting: “I often reach out to sector contacts. I usually ask, ‘Do you know a strong partner in this or that country?’ Often it works like that. Sometimes, a proposal written in two weeks with the right people is more successful than one written over three months.”
The discussion also addressed the role of consultants. While consulting companies can help structure and polish a proposal, “content and substance must come from the team itself,” participants agreed.
Trust, Transparency, and Learning from Failure
A recurring theme throughout the event was the need to embrace failure as a stepping stone to success. As Dr Fokaides poignantly put it: “If you don’t fail, you won’t succeed. Try again and again – even if you feel you weren’t judged correctly, even if you think you deserved a higher score. Be consistent. Try again.”
Participants discussed non-disclosure concerns when pitching project ideas. While some fear their ideas might be reused by others, most panellists agreed that success depends not only on the idea but also on execution capacity, infrastructure, and team strength.
Prof. Dr Paulauskaitė-Tarasevičienė posed a thought-provoking challenge: “Let’s imagine you did steal a great idea. Then what? Can you actually make it happen? Without the right competencies, a solid team, and the necessary infrastructure, even the best idea stays just that – an idea.”
Building Europe’s Digital Future
Brokerage meetings and one-on-one sessions concluded the day, enabling concrete networking and project matchmaking. Several participants acknowledged that past EU project partnerships began at similar events, underscoring the importance of informal exchange spaces.
In his closing words, Dr Fokaides reflected on the responsibility that comes with grant success: “Whenever I get a grant, I feel that I’ve succeeded – that I’m there, that I’m responsible. That I’m supporting young researchers. And as an academic, I feel that this is my duty – to the society.”
As the event concluded, SustAInLivWork reaffirmed its role as a driver of innovation, resilience, and collaboration in the AI landscape. By combining academic excellence with practical engagement and foresight, the Centre of Excellence continues to strengthen Lithuania’s and the Baltic region’s position in Europe’s AI ecosystem.
