Liliana de Almeida Fonseca

Liliana de Almeida Fonseca is a Research Fellow at the European Policies Research Centre (EPRC) at the University of Strathclyde, specializing in European cohesion policy, regional development, innovation, and sustainability. She holds a PhD from the University of Aveiro (2022), an MSc in Eco-Cities from Cardiff University (2016), and a Bachelor's in Political Science and International Relations from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (2013). Previously, she was a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow under the RUNIN project, focusing on universities' roles in regional innovation.

Educations:

• Doctor of Philosophy (2022), University of Aveiro: The Role of Universities in Regional Innovation Policies and Practices
• Master of Science (2016), Cardiff University: Eco-Cities
• Bachelor of Social Science (2013), Universidade Nova de Lisboa: Political Science and International Relations

Research Interests: Her work bridges public policy, regional development, and sustainability, particularly examining how universities and institutions drive innovation ecosystems. Key themes include smart specialization strategies, circular economy policies, low-carbon transitions, and the socio-economic impacts of EU funding programs. She also explores challenges in disadvantaged regions and the role of universities in civic missions.

Awards & Projects:

• Recipient of the IND+I Science 2017 award.
• Co-investigator on ESRC-funded projects, including How can a university presence help peripheral places? The potentials and challenges for universities’ civic mission through branch or distributed campuses (2025–2026).
• Contributed to TRACER and Chain REACTion initiatives analyzing EU cohesion policy and regional resilience.

Labs & Engagement: Engages in policy outreach, peer-reviewed journal participation, and collaborative workshops on topics like low-carbon entrepreneurship and just transitions. Active in conferences and interdisciplinary research networks.