The partners of the CROSSCOMP 2.0 project – Upgrade of the Cross-Border Regional Hub of Competences for the Automotive Industry for Green and Digital Emerging Trends met on 17–18 September 2026 for the project’s 4th Progress Meeting.
Organised by Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași (TUIASI) in a hybrid format, the two-day meeting brought together representatives of TUIASI and the Technical University of Moldova (UTM) to review the progress achieved during the fourth reporting period and coordinate the next stages of project implementation. Ten participants attended the meeting on site at the Council Hall of the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology, while four joined online.
Reviewing progress across key project activities
The meeting provided an opportunity to assess the implementation of the project’s main activities, with discussions covering management and reporting, financial management, communication and dissemination, the development of the new double-diploma master’s programme, academic infrastructure, and the Green and Digital Automotive Engineering International Summer School.
The partners confirmed that collaboration between TUIASI and UTM continued effectively throughout the reporting period, supported by regular meetings, email communication and Microsoft Teams. The project teams remained in close contact and contributed jointly to the implementation of the planned activities.
Regarding management and reporting, both partners submitted their individual project reports within the established timeframe, while the consolidated report was being prepared for submission to the Joint Secretariat. The partners also reviewed financial management procedures and discussed cash-flow requirements for the upcoming period.
The communication and dissemination activities were also reviewed. During the reporting period, the project website was updated with information about the delivery of equipment for the Automotive Electronics Laboratory at TUIASI. The partners also organised the second International Summer School on Green and Digital Automotive Engineering, held from 29 June to 3 July 2026. Further dissemination activities, including an event dedicated to presenting the newly purchased equipment to stakeholders and the press, were discussed for the next period.
New double-diploma Master’s programme takes shape
An important milestone discussed during the meeting was the progress made under Activity 1.6 – Joint Development of a new double-diploma high-quality interdisciplinary study programme at master level.
The partners reported on the work carried out towards the internal accreditation of the new master’s programme at UTM. The programme is now in place, and its first admission process was successfully completed, with 12 students enrolled. The meeting also included the approval of the TUIASI Internal Evaluation Report (D1.6.3).
Academic infrastructure upgraded
The meeting also highlighted progress in the modernisation of the academic infrastructure under Activity 1.7. Both TUIASI and UTM confirmed that the procurement procedures for the teaching equipment included in the project had been completed.
At TUIASI, all equipment items had been delivered, while UTM reported that 100% of the teaching equipment had also been delivered. Following economies achieved during procurement, the partners discussed the possibility of purchasing additional equipment for the laboratories through an addendum to the grant agreement.
Green and Digital Automotive Engineering Summer School
A significant component of the meeting was the review of Activity 1.8 – Green and Digital Automotive Engineering International Summer School.
The second edition of the Summer School took place at UTM from 29 June to 3 July 2026, bringing together students from UTM and TUIASI. The programme included workshops, laboratory activities, teamwork and study visits, with a focus on topics such as automotive electrification, sustainable mobility, embedded systems, artificial intelligence, IoT and Industry 4.0.
The participating students also visited Informbusiness, BSW Tech and DRÄXLMAIER, gaining practical insights into electrical equipment, automotive software and electronic systems development. The programme included visits to UTM laboratories, where students were introduced to modern equipment purchased with the support of CROSSCOMP 2.0.
Looking ahead
The second day of the meeting also focused on preparations for the 4th Progress Report, with the partners reviewing reporting responsibilities, internal deadlines and the collection and organisation of technical and financial documentation.
At the end of the meeting, the partners confirmed that the project was progressing according to schedule and in compliance with the Grant Contract. The activities and deliverables reviewed during the meeting were approved, no major risks were identified, and the next steps and deadlines were agreed upon.
The continued coordination between TUIASI and UTM will remain essential for the timely implementation of the remaining activities and for achieving the project’s objectives: strengthening cross-border cooperation in higher education and supporting the development of skills and educational infrastructure aligned with the green and digital transformation of the automotive sector.
