In addition to the traditional deepening of mutual cooperation and networking, participants also had the opportunity to take part in panel discussions and other meetings on the topic of "Regional Transition Accelerator". The first day of the conference was mainly devoted to panel discussions on linking innovation strategy priorities across regions. From these discussions, other essential themes for future cooperation emerged.

One of the panel discussions was led by Ing. Dalibor Šimek, Ph.D., in which the Rector of Silesian University doc. Mgr. Tomáš Gongol, Ph., discussed with the rectors of Universiteti Aleksandër Moisiu Durrës, Universidad de La Laguna, and Hochschule Bremen how they support student entrepreneurship at their universities. During the discussion, the innovative entrepreneurship study program of the Silesian University was presented as an example of an optimal way of teaching entrepreneurship, arguing that it is based on the principle of teaching through practice. The discussion also emphasized the importance of entrepreneurial thinking of PhD students, and in this context, the great potential of professional doctoral studies linked to practice was also pointed out. Rector doc. Tomáš Gongol also emphasized the importance and relevance of innovative pedagogical methods for teaching within business and entrepreneurship disciplines.

On the second day, meetings of the individual "Work Packages" were held, which were also attended by representatives of other WPs: Ing. Tomáš Pražák, Ph.D., and Mgr. Markéta Skalná, Ph.D., (WP2), Vice-Dean for International Relations of the OPF Ing. Jana Šimáková, Ph.D., and the Vice-Dean for International Relations of the FVP, Mgr. Kateřina Janků, Ph.D., (WP3), Vice-Dean for Science and Research OPF doc. Iveta Palečková (WP4), Ing. Petra Chmielová, Ph.D., (WP7), Mgr. Anna Novák Šefraná (WP1, STARS EU Officer), Mgr. Barbora Hamplová (WP8, STARS EU Communication). The STARS EU project is very complex, therefore, it is essential that people involved in its implementation can network and address even sub-topics together. 

"The benefit of this conference is the networking of people in the individual thematic goups because it addresses the real foundations for follow-up research and education, which is the biggest benefit of STARS EU. This alliance creates opportunities that we are not able to fully realize in our limited region, but the stable partners of STARS EU can bring this overlap. We can start to build something that will make sense in the long term. (...) We also want to involve students in thematic groups and strategic decision-making as much as possible because they are largely the target group of our activities. We need them to perceive not only that we are a part of the individual campuses of each university but also that we exist at the level of the European University."

– Rector doc. Tomáš Gongol

The Silesian University is the leader of the European University project Work Package 5, which is focused on building a shared digital campus and developing physical campuses. During the conference, several meetings were held to prepare a comparative study of the digital technology and information systems equipment of individual universities.

"A detailed analysis of a mutual compatibility is essential for choosing the best digital campus solution and implementing joint educational and other activities."

– Vice-Rector for Science and International Relations prof. Daniel Stavárek

A poster of the Erasmus+ project was also presented at the conference, on which the Vice-Dean for International Relations of the FVP Mgr. Kateřina Janků, Ph.D., and Mgr. Markéta Skalná, Ph.D., work as part of the “Healthy Agein” TIG (thematic interest group) along with two other STARS EU universities, namely Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (Portugal) and University West (Sweden). During the meeting, a new thematic group called "Inclusion and Social Justice" was also created.

"On behalf of The School of Business Administration in Karviná, I can say that STARS EU opens the door to research, which we dearly appreciate because, as a part of a regional university, our faculty would not have access to internationally recognized research on its own. We already offer two Erasmus+ projects at our faculty, which we run with our STARS EU partners and which we have been able to set up much more quickly than if we were to find partners outside the STARS EU alliance. The BIPs ('Blended Intensive Programs’) and the fact that not only teachers but also students can get involved in the activities are big benefits. I see STARS EU as a great opportunity for academics, even those who are not fluent in English, as they can participate in activities that our faculty can facilitate. This means that they do not have to be involved in the whole process and can collaborate in different activities without having to travel."

– Vice-Dean for Foreign Relations of the FVP Mgr. Kateřina Janků, Ph.D.

Another important participant of the conference was Mgr. Adéla Hradilová, member of the Board of Directors of the Moravian-Silesian Innovation Centre MSIC, where she is responsible for the regional innovation strategy. Her work includes the preparation, piloting, implementation, and evaluation of new programs and services and the implementation of a program to support emerging SMEs and their development in the areas of digitalization, sustainability, health, and mobility, among others. Within MSIC, she is also responsible for securing funding, international cooperation, and implementation of activities. We asked her a few questions about the STARS EU.

What is the significance of the STARS EU Alliance for the Moravian-Silesian Region?

"STARS EU connects our region with regions of similar status in other countries that often face the same problems. One of the biggest potential benefits of working with our partners in the STARS EU alliance is supporting student entrepreneurship in the Moravian-Silesian region, as STARS EU involves regions with more experience than we do. So, in this case, it will be a transfer of know-how."

Why is it important to promote entrepreneurship?

"Silesian University in Opava is progressive in promoting entrepreneurship and has a lot to offer to foreign partners. So, there is a mutual exchange, which is very important because we must not only take from our partners but also offer them something in return. The level of entrepreneurship in our region is very low, and people are not used to entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship needs to be awakened and developed primarily in students because they are more open to these incentives."

What other benefits do you see in STARS EU?

"Our region has been suffering from the fact that people from our region have been leaving for Prague, Brno, and even abroad for the past 20 years. I hope that involvement in STARS EU will allow us to present our interesting study and research programs, joint doctoral studies, and other opportunities that will help us attract talented people from abroad to the region."

Which specific Thematic Interest Group (TIG) could benefit the Moravian-Silesian Region?

"I see the possibility of linking in thematic areas such as 'Healthy Ageing' and others.  It may come as a surprise, but a very interesting hub is starting to emerge in the Moravian-Silesian Region, revolving around med-tech startups. This is probably due to the fact that we have the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ostrava, the Faculty of Public Policies of the Silesian University in Opava, a supercomputer, the Technical University of Ostrava, the University Hospital Ostrava and MSIC, all here at the same time - and all this together forms a beautiful breeding ground where representatives of various companies meet with doctors, address their needs and so on, and very interesting products start to emerge. We have startups that have already succeeded in the US market, and we have a startup that is on the way to becoming a scaleup, which is a startup that is growing 20% year-on-year. For example, Stanvia, a company focusing on incontinence solutions, has received a huge investment from abroad. This is one of the areas that could greatly benefit from the alliance. STARS EU has much to offer to our region and can also help our startups showcase their products in the other eight member regions of the alliance."