Details

March 4, 2026

1:00 pm

March 4, 2026

2:45 pm

Format: Online (Zoom)

 Access: WAITRO Members

Date: 04 March 2026 (tbc)
Time: Bogotá (UTC−5) 07:00–08:45 | Berlin (UTC+1) 13:00–14:45 | Nairobi (UTC+3) 15:00–16:45 | Beijing (UTC+8) 20:00–21:45
Target Audience: Researchers and Research Managers

Digital Matchmaking Tools
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About the Session

Agenda

1. Welcome by WAITRO Operations e.V.

A short introduction to WAITRO and overview of the session’s objectives and its relevance for WAITRO members.

2. Insight on Building Strong EU Consortia Through Digital Matchmaking
Speaker: Michael Browne (CEO, Co-Founder), Cais Jurgens (Head of Membership Development)

Our experts from Crowdhelix offer valuable insights on effective digital networking and consortium building in EU-funded research and innovation. The session will deliver practical guidance on:

  • Finding trusted consortium partners: Strategies for identifying the right, reliable collaborators for strong and multidisciplinary EU consortia
  • Strengthening international collaboration: Approaches to expand cross-border cooperation and nurture sustainable global research networks
  • AI-enhanced proposal development: Real-world lessons from Crowdhelix’s role as innovation and impact partner in 30+ EU-funded projects
  • Next-generation application support: A showcase of Crowdhelix’s proprietary build AI tools designed to shape and enhance complex EU applications
More information coming soon.

3. Closing by WAITRO Operations e.V.

A brief summary of the session followed by concluding reflections and key takeaways.

About the Experts

Crowdhelix

Crowdhelix is an Open Innovation Network and Collaboration Platform that forges links between an international network of excellent researchers and innovating companies, so that they can plan, deliver, and exploit pioneering collaborative projects and value chains. Founded in 2012 by Research & Innovation Managers, Crowdhelix has now spent 13 years helping universities, RTOs and businesses connect with trusted collaborators. This is our quality over quantity approach to open collaboration for the global research and innovation ecosystem.

Speakers

Michael Browne: As a global expert in open innovation and international research collaboration, Michael Browne has more than 25 years of experience leading organizations, building strategic partnerships, and shaping worldwide innovation networks across publicly and privately funded R&D ecosystems. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Crowdhelix, an AI-driven open innovation platform designed to connect world-leading research institutions, researchers, and innovative businesses to form multidisciplinary partnerships, that address complex societal and industrial challenges and deliver real-world impact.

Cais Jurgens: Head of Membership Development at Crowdhelix, Cais Jurgens leads engagement with industry and academia to build high-impact and open-innovation collaborations. His work spans corporate innovation projects, international matchmaking and brokerage events, research proposal development and consortium management, as well as impact-driven R&I strategy.

This session is part of the Capacity Development Initiative (CDI):

Getting Ready for International Collaboration – Publicly Funded Research Projects

Other WAITRO Events