Exploring the Implementation of Acceleration Services in Higher Education: A Case Study of Unite! Agora as a Transformative Platform

This paper is dedicated to the vital role of Acceleration Services in fostering the digital transformation of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Institutional transformation is pivotal for promoting innovation, elevating research and teaching quality, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and enhancing the societal impact of HEIs. Through a focused case study, we shed light on the implementation and impact of acceleration services within an HEI, specifically the A University Partnership for Acceleration of European Universities (aUPaEU) project. A comprehensive analysis of this case study, with a focus on university networks for innovation and technology (Unite!) Agora serves as a testament to the success and outcomes of Agora acceleration services in driving institutional transformation within the aUPaEU initiative. Agora is a shared platform for collaboration that offers a multitude of acceleration services to help HEIs connect, share knowledge, and create new solutions. Also, to create methodologies, sustainability plans, coaching services, and tangible digital technologies, using an acceleration agora to achieve integrated, shared, and long-term R&I transformations through collaborative efforts.