HEROES Alliance

What HEROES Alliance does

HEROES Alliance is a European University Alliance coordinating a consortium of nine practice-oriented higher education institutions (plus five associated partners) across 14 countries, headquartered at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences in Geel, Belgium. The alliance was established as a recognized European University Alliance under the EU's Erasmus+ programme and focuses on strengthening 'smart regional resilience' in small and medium-sized European cities through joint education, practice-oriented research, and regional stakeholder engagement. Its core products include the HEROES Virtual Campus digital collaboration platform, Joint Study Programmes (15-ECTS modules, 30-ECTS minors, double/dual degrees), the HEROES4REGIONS research hub organized into six thematic pods (Agriculture & Food, Circular Economy, Regional Development, Digital Transformation, Care & Wellbeing, Education/Learning/Inclusion), Challenge-Based Learning initiatives, Blended Intensive Programmes, micro-credentials, staff training, and the HEROESfriends community engagement network. Underlying technology consists of the Virtual Campus platform, the AGORA management system for activities and training programmes, the HEROES Spiral methodology for workshop facilitation, and a Challenge-Based Learning Framework co-developed with partners.

The alliance serves three primary user groups: higher-education students seeking cross-border learning experiences and credentials; academic and professional staff involved in joint governance, curriculum development, and mobility; and regional stakeholders (companies, NGOs, public authorities) engaged through the HEROESfriends programme. Reach at the consortium level comprises 120,000 students, 22 campuses, and 14,000 staff. The business model is non-commercial: HEROES is funded by European Union grants through the Erasmus+ programme and EACEA, with all educational programmes, mobility opportunities, and collaborative activities offered free of charge to participants at partner institutions. Enterprise entities such as Maxima LT, Actulux, and Dantherm participate as challenge-providers for student projects rather than paying customers. Revenue mechanics therefore consist of multi-year EU grant cycles flowing through the coordinating institution, with no pricing model and no per-participant fees; the alliance generates no commercial revenue. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging semi-annual conferences, Design Days, summer schools, BIPs, staff training weeks, podcasts, and social channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, MailerLite newsletter) to drive engagement and collaboration across the network.

Name

HEROES Alliance

Legal name

HEROES (Higher Education and Research for Regional Resilience and Sustainability)

Website

https://heroesuniversity.eu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HEROES Alliance is a non-profit European University Alliance of nine practice-oriented higher education institutions across 14 countries, funded by the EU's Erasmus+ programme to deliver joint education, challenge-based learning, and practice-oriented research that strengthens smart regional resilience across European small and medium-sized cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Alliance Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAIABAC

Research Collaboration & Joint Labs (International Partnerships)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/University/College Exchange Programs & Partnerships

SECONDARYEDAIABAE

Articulation & Credit Transfer Partnerships

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/University/College Exchange Programs & Partnerships

Keywords

• Higher education alliance
• Joint study programmes
• Challenge-based learning
• Cross-border collaboration
• Regional resilience research

Headquarters

HQ city

Geel

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Erasmus+ EU Funding: HEROES Alliance is funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme as a European University Alliance initiative. The alliance receives grants to support joint education, research, mobility, and collaboration activities across partner institutions.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HEROES Alliance is a European University Alliance delivering cross-border joint educational programmes, challenge-based learning initiatives, and practice-oriented research collaboration across nine partner universities. It provides students with joint modules (15 ECTS), minors (30 ECTS), double/dual degrees, micro-credentials, Blended Intensive Programmes, summer schools, and internships, while enabling staff mobility, shared governance, and access to a shared HEROES Virtual Campus digital platform.

Product overview

HEROES Alliance is a European University Alliance of nine practice-oriented higher education institutions offering a portfolio of interconnected educational products and services. The core offerings include the HEROES Virtual Campus (a shared digital environment for cross-border collaboration), Joint Study Programmes (modules, minors, and double/dual degrees through Challenge-Based Learning), the HEROES4REGIONS Research Hub (organized in thematic pods), micro-credentials, staff training, Blended Intensive Programmes, and the HEROESfriends network. These products work together to strengthen smart regional resilience through quality professional education, impactful practice-oriented research, and regional collaboration across Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HEROES Virtual Campus: A shared digital environment designed to bring together students, teachers, researchers, professional staff, and local stakeholders from across HEROES partner universities.
• HEROESfriends
• HEROES4REGIONS
• HEROES4EVER
• HEROES Spiral

Products and services

• HEROES Virtual Campus A shared digital environment bringing together students, teachers, researchers, professional staff, and local stakeholders from across the nine partner universities for collaboration, learning, mobility, and community engagement.
• Joint Study Programmes (EDUCATION4HEROES)

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ students engaged in Challenge-Based Learning initiatives
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Vilnius Chamber of Commerce, Industry and CraftsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2026Joint training on AI in advertising with ~40 SME representatives, part of AIforSMEs initiative. First step in laying groundwork for HEROESFriends programme in the Vilnius region.
• Thomas More University of Applied SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinating institution of the HEROES Alliance, based in Belgium. Hosts the HEROES Secretariat at Kleinhoefstraat 4, Geel. Responsible for governance structures and project coordination.
• Fontys University of Applied SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the largest universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands, based in Eindhoven, Tilburg, and Venlo. Leads Challenge-Based Education (WP4) and hosts International Days.
• University College Northern Denmark (UCN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in Aalborg, Northern Jutland, Denmark with campuses in Aalborg, Hjørring, and Thisted. Hosts semi-annual meetings and international events.
• Polytechnic Institute of Beja (IPBeja)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic higher education institution in Beja, Portugal. Leads the Joint Practice-Oriented Scientific Research Hub (WP5) and hosts regional stakeholder meetings.
• Deggendorf Institute of Technology (DIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Deggendorf, Germany. Hosts the first HEROES Summer School and contributes to research pods.
• Halmstad UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in Halmstad, Sweden. Leads the Virtual Campus (WP9) and hosts semi-annual conferences.
• Vilniaus Kolegija/Higher Education Institution (VIKO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest accredited higher professional education institution in Lithuania, based in Vilnius. Leads Dissemination, Impact and Sustainability (WP10) and website administration.
• Mendel University in BrnocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in Brno, South Moravia, Czech Republic. Contributes to joint mobility and research collaboration.
• Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SEAMK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in Seinäjoki, Finland. Leads Joint Study Programmes (WP3) and contributes to research pods.
• Ukrainian Catholic UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated partner from Ukraine participating in alliance activities and meetings.
• Universum International CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated partner from Kosovo participating in alliance activities and meetings.
• EAIE (European Association for International Education)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHEROES participates at EAIE annual conferences, hosting joint booths with other European University Alliances.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• EUR - Erasmus University Rotterdam: A large Dutch research-intensive university that participates in European University Alliances and is part of the broader ecosystem in which HEROES operates - comparable as a Dutch higher-education institution in the same EU academic and policy environment.
• Erasmus+ Programme (European Commission): The overarching EU programme that funds HEROES and other European University Alliances; comparable as the funder and policy framework whose priorities shape HEROES' operating model and grant eligibility.

Direct peers

• EUTOPIA Alliance: A European University Alliance of ten institutions focused on connected curricula, inclusive mobility, and research collaboration - highly comparable in scale, funding structure (Erasmus+), and the objective of integrated cross-border higher education offerings.
• EUNICE - European University for Customised Education: Another Erasmus+ funded European University Alliance combining multiple higher education institutions across member states for joint programmes and student mobility - directly comparable in funding model, governance structure, and cross-border education mission to HEROES.
• 4EU+ Alliance: A long-standing European university alliance focusing on joint research, teaching, and student mobility across member institutions - comparable in consortium model, joint digital infrastructure, and educational programme integration.
• ENLIGHT European University: An Erasmus+ funded alliance of European universities offering joint programmes, mobility, and shared digital platforms - directly comparable in mission, funding source, and the breadth of cross-border educational activities pursued.
• EUniWell - European University for Well-Being: An Erasmus+ funded alliance of European universities pooling education and research around well-being themes - comparable in consortium model, EU grant dependency, and joint programme/mobility infrastructure.
• RUN-EU - Regional University Network: A European University Alliance emphasising regional development and applied, practice-oriented learning across member institutions - directly comparable to HEROES' focus on regional resilience and Challenge-Based Learning.
• CIRCLE U. European University Alliance: An Erasmus+ funded alliance of research-intensive universities developing joint educational offerings and cross-border collaboration - similar in scale and EU funding dependency to HEROES.

Others

• European Association for International Education (EAIE): HEROES' GTM/marketing partner and the main European forum for international higher education - comparable as the principal ecosystem convener where HEROES presents its alliance model and recruits partners.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heroes-alliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/heroes_university_eu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about HEROES Alliance