The first objective is to strengthen scientific excellence and knowledge valorisation in clearly defined research areas. Three research projects focusing on various aspects of sustainable urban development will be carried out within the project. The research will range from the development of innovative building materials to sustainable urban monitoring and the development of methodologies for policy transfer across different regions and countries.

The second objective is to enhance the global competitiveness and visibility of higher education institutions (HEIs) by building a critical mass of expertise in these research areas. This includes developing strong capacity for preparing European project proposals, fostering collaboration among academia, industry, public authorities, and civil society, and strengthening linkages between higher education institutions and local, regional, and international ecosystems. Special attention will be paid to data management following FAIR principles, Open Access (OA) publishing, and engaging the public through citizen science.

The third objective is to improve researcher career development by introducing institutional changes in the evaluation and management of research work, aligned with principles promoted by CoARA and Research Management and Administration (RMA). Through various training programs, WISE will promote the development of transferable skills while advancing fair research assessment, diversity, gender equality, inclusion, and open science.

The WISE project is coordinated by the University of Primorska, with Slovenian partners IQWood and the Regional Development Agency of the Ljubljana Urban Region also participating. Together, they will contribute to strengthening Slovenia's position in the field of innovation for sustainable urban development.