Exploration, cooperation, and growth: Exploitation Workshops strengthen the One Health excellence

Between July and October 2025, project partners joined forces to organize a series of Exploitation Workshops designed to enhance collaboration, exchange experience, and explore new pathways for sustainable research and innovation under the One Health framework.

These meetings brought together experts, researchers, and institutional representatives to reflect on key aspects of research cooperation and institutional development. The workshops were structured around a diverse range of topics that address both strategic and practical dimensions of academic collaboration: seeking and managing funds, gender equality in research, branding and visibility, stakeholder engagement, research management, cooperation with business and civil society organizations, and outreach through dissemination and publication strategies.

Each session provided a unique opportunity to connect institutional perspectives, identify common challenges, and develop practical solutions that will help strengthen the One Health research network in the years to come.

The discussions on funding strategies encouraged participants to look beyond traditional sources, exploring alternative mechanisms to complement national and European programmes such as Horizon WIDERA. This exploration aimed to support applicant contributions to COFUND-type calls and to lay the groundwork for establishing the One Health excellence.

A particularly inspiring part of the workshops was the session on gender equality in research, led by the University of Helsinki. Participants gained an in-depth understanding of the university’s structures and practices, including committee models, legal obligations, inclusive communication strategies, and training programmes. These examples provided valuable guidance for future Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) planning and cooperation at the Estonian University of Life Sciences.

Another important focus was on branding and visibility, emphasizing how researchers and institutions can build a strong academic identity through consistent engagement on both scientific and public platforms. The discussions highlighted strategies to enhance visibility, improve outreach, and support long-term career development within and beyond the One Health community.

Some of the expert consultation sessions took place in Helsinki and Milan. For example, participants had the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the University of Milan’s infrastructure planning and innovation district development. The visit showcased how sustainability, stakeholder involvement, and interdisciplinary collaboration can be embedded into campus and research development. These experiences offered valuable lessons for designing research environments that foster innovation, openness, and cooperation across disciplines. 

Throughout the series, participants shared ideas and practical approaches to research project management, cooperation with businesses and civil society organizations, and effective dissemination of research results. This helped a lot in the creation of the One Health strategy in Estonia. What is more, meetings and workshops ultimately strengthened mutual understanding among partners and laid a solid foundation for more integrated, visible, and sustainable collaboration within the One Health research ecosystem.