NUCLEUS Project

What NUCLEUS Project does

NUCLEUS was a four-year European Union Horizon 2020 research project (Grant Agreement No 664932) operating from 2015 to 2019, coordinated by Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Kleve, Germany, under Project Lead Prof. Alexander Gerber. It investigated how to make Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) a reality in universities and scientific institutions, working through a consortium of 24 partner organisations across 14 countries and three continents (Europe, China, South Africa). The project's primary customers were universities and research institutions, alongside policymakers, science journalists, and civil society organisations, with the goal of identifying institutional barriers to stakeholder engagement and aligning research with societal needs.

The project's core deliverables were governance frameworks, implementation roadmaps, and capacity-building tools rather than commercial technology. Key products included Embedded Nuclei (10 test beds implementing RRI culture change across Europe, China, and South Africa), Mobile Nuclei (portable engagement kits for science festivals), a Research Ethics MOOC run by University of Lyon (3,000+ participants in its first session), annual international conferences (Hannover 2017, Malta 2018, Pathways to Transformation 2019), and research outputs such as the Interdisciplinary Study on RRI Barriers (100+ institutional interviews) and a Cross-Cultural Adaptation Report covering China and South Africa. The Science Journalists Network, coordinated by EUSJA, extended the project's reach into science communication.

NUCLEUS did not generate commercial revenue. Its only funding stream was the Horizon 2020 grant, and all outputs were distributed freely through the website, conferences, newsletters, and social channels. The project has a closed operating status, with the funded program concluded at the end of its four-year term. A 7-person core team managed the consortium, while execution was distributed across 24 partner organisations through a Work Package governance structure.

Name

NUCLEUS Project

Legal name

NUCLEUS Project

Website

https://nucleus-project.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NUCLEUS was a four-year Horizon 2020 research project that helped universities and research institutions embed Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) through governance frameworks, 10 test beds, and an ethics MOOC, coordinated by Rhine-Waal University in Germany with a 24-partner consortium across 14 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research Policy and Innovation Consulting

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Research Administration & Compliance (Sponsored Programs, IRB/REB) (EDADAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)

Keywords

• Responsible research innovation
• Research policy frameworks
• Institutional capacity building
• Science society engagement
• Research ethics education

Headquarters

HQ city

Kleve

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. EU Research Grant Funding: NUCLEUS is funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 664932. This is a four-year research project investigating how to make RRI a reality in universities and scientific institutions. There is no commercial revenue generation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NUCLEUS develops and disseminates Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) governance frameworks, implementation roadmaps, and capacity-building tools for universities and research institutions. It produced 10 Embedded Nuclei test beds across Europe, China, and South Africa, a Research Ethics MOOC, Mobile Nuclei engagement kits, annual conferences, and research outputs on RRI barriers and cultural adaptation.

Product overview

The NUCLEUS Project was a four-year Horizon 2020 research initiative (2015-2019) focused on making Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) a reality in universities and scientific institutions. Rather than a commercial product, the project offered a suite of programs and tools including Mobile Nuclei (portable engagement kits), Embedded Nuclei (10 institutional test beds implementing RRI across Europe, China, and South Africa), an Ethics MOOC (online course for PhD students), and annual conferences. The project also produced research outputs including interdisciplinary studies on RRI barriers and cultural adaptation reports, and coordinated a Science Journalists' Network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Ethics MOOC Massive Open Online Course on research ethics and scientific integrity developed by the University of Lyon's Research Ethics Platform, designed for PhD students and researchers. The five-week course covers the impact of science on society, conflict of interest, and social responsibility.
• Mobile Nuclei Engagement Kits Portable engagement kits that bring RRI concepts to institutions and public events including science festivals; designed to enable hands-on stakeholder engagement activities outside traditional research settings.
• NUCLEUS Annual Conferences Annual international conferences (2016-2019) bringing together RRI practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to share findings on implementing Responsible Research and Innovation in institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ethics MOOC reached 3,000+ participants in 2018, with 50% completion rate
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rhine-Waal University of Applied SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinator of the NUCLEUS project. Project Lead Prof. Alexander Gerber is based at this university. Responsible for project management (Work Package 1) and NUCLEUS Conferences (Work Package 6).
• Bielefeld UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Prof. Dr. Martin Carrier, conducting the Interdisciplinary Study on RRI Barriers (Work Package 3). Interviewed 100+ institutional representatives across Europe.
• University of AberdeencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Jenifer Scott, focused on Capacity Building and RRI Action Plans (Work Package 4). Public Engagement with Research Unit (PERU) coordinates field trips.
• University of TwentecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Anne Dijkstra, conducted cross-cultural RRI adaptation study focusing on China and South Africa. Part of Work Package 3 on interdisciplinary RRI study.
• Dublin City UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Padraig Murphy, responsible for Nuclei Implementation 2017-2019 (Work Package 5). Caitriona Mordan represents DCU at conferences.
• Science ViewcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Menelaos Sotiriou, responsible for Monitoring (Work Package 7). Co-presents on Living RRI insights from 10 NUCLEUS institutions.
• European Science Engagement Association (EUSEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates the Science Journalists Network. Andrea Troncoso from EUSEA coordinates Mobile Nuclei workshops and conference logistics.
• University of Edinburgh (Beltane Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeltane Public Engagement Network represents Edinburgh across four universities. Co-developed Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas format. Mentors Embedded Nuclei test beds.
• South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the 10 Embedded Nuclei test beds. Penny Haworth represents SAIAB. Implements RRI strategies in South African research context.
• China Research Institute for Science Popularization (CRISP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYin Lin from CRISP collaborated on cross-cultural RRI adaptation study. Represents Chinese perspective on responsible innovation.
• South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShadrack Mkansi contributed to cross-cultural RRI study. Supports RRI implementation in South African context.
• Delft University of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted working group meeting on RRI from Plans to Practice. Part of consortium working on Embedded Nuclei implementation.
• University of LyoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 10 Embedded Nuclei. Launched ethics MOOC with 3,000+ participants. Amalia Verzola represents University of Lyon at conferences.
• University of MaltacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted 4th NUCLEUS Conference in 2018. Hans-Joachim Sonntag represents Malta. One of the Embedded Nuclei test beds.
• Ilia State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 10 Embedded Nuclei. Nino Sharikadze represents Ilia State University. Implements RRI in Georgian context.
• Mathematical Institute of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MISANU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarija Segan-Radonjic represents MISANU. Embedded Nuclei working group met in Belgrade. One of 10 test beds.
• Ruhr-University of BochumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarco Rustemeyer represents Ruhr University. One of the Embedded Nuclei presenting insights at conferences.
• Nottingham Trent UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 10 Embedded Nuclei. Representative participates in Living RRI sessions at annual conferences.
• Wellcome Genome CampuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKen Skeldon leads Public Engagement. Contributed to RRI Implementation Roadmap presentation at 2017 conference.
• Beijing Association for Science and TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisation representing Beijing perspective in the 24-member consortium.
• City of BochumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner in consortium providing public policy perspective.
• Nottingham City CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJon Rea from Nottingham City Council served as conference facilitator. Local government perspective in consortium.
• PSIQUADROminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian partner. Leonardo Alfonsi contributes to Mobile Nuclei presentations.
• Science City HannoverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidised conference dinner costs for NUCLEUS 2017 Annual Conference. Local science initiative in Hannover.
• Wissenschaft im Dialog (WiD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman science communication organisation. Ricarda Ziegler presents Mobile Nuclei concepts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• European Commission DG R&I: The funder and policy driver behind RRI in Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe. Included as the upstream counterparty shaping RRI standards that NUCLEUS's outputs feed into.

Direct peers

• SOPs4RI: Horizon 2020 project developing standards of practice for research integrity. Comparable as a policy-and-framework H2020 project targeting research institutions, with strong overlap in consortium structure and dissemination model.
• European Science Engagement Association (EUSEA): EUSEA is itself a NUCLEUS partner and coordinates the Science Journalists Network within the project. Directly comparable as a European association facilitating science-society engagement.
• PRINTEGER: Horizon 2020 project on promoting research integrity and ethics. Direct peer as a contemporaneous EU-funded initiative focused on changing institutional cultures in research organisations.
• Path2Integrity: Horizon 2020 project on training early-career researchers in research ethics and integrity. Direct peer via shared Horizon 2020 funding, mutual RRI/ethics themes, and consortium-based delivery networks across Europe.
• RRI Tools: Sibling Horizon 2020 project that built a toolkit for Responsible Research and Innovation implementation across Europe. Closest direct peer: same funding line, same RRI mandate, similarly consortium-driven with overlapping universities.

Broad incumbents

• Science Europe: Association of European research funding and research performing organisations. Comparable as a policy-oriented umbrella body whose work on RRI and open science overlaps directly with NUCLEUS's mandate.
• LERU (League of European Research Universities): Network of Europe's leading research-intensive universities. Comparable through its publications and policy work on RRI, open science, and university governance reform.
• Sparc.eu (European University Association): EUA represents over 850 universities and is a leading voice on institutional R&I policy in Europe. Comparable as a broader, more established actor pursuing overlapping themes of responsible research and institutional governance reform.

Regional players

• Wissenschaft im Dialog (WiD): German science communication organisation and NUCLEUS partner. Comparable as a national-level intermediary running public engagement programmes analogous to NUCLEUS's Mobile Nuclei.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NucleusRRI
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCadXeifJcaxAgiIYMCkvJPQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/NucleusRRI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nucleusproject

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NUCLEUS Project