The ETER contract is implemented by a consortium of five partners:
- USI – Università della Svizzera italiana
- JOANNEUM RESEARCH
- AIT – Austrian Institute of Technology
- NIFU – Nordic Institute for Studies in Innovation
- University of Rome La Sapienza
All consortium partners, as well as a network of national experts, support data delivery.
Additional key functions of the project team (USI, JOANNEUM RESEARCH and AIT) are as follows:
- Coordinating the entire process and developing its methodology, as specified in the project Handbook
- Preparing perimeter and data collection templates and sending them to NSAs.
- Performing data validation and quality analysis on collected data and reporting any problems to NSAs.
- Integrating the data in the ETER database and publishing them.
- External communication and dissemination.
- Training for data collectors and data users.
Within the project team, the USI is responsible for the leadership of consortium and central coordination, methodological development and external stakeholder relations, the AIT leads on dissemination and training as well as future developments, while JOANNEUM RESEARCH is responsible for managing the data collection infrastructure.

USI – Università della Svizzera Italiana
Institute of Communication and Public Policy, Lugano, Switzerland

JOANNEUM RESEARCH
Institute for Economic and Innovation Research, Graz, Austria

AIT - Austrian Institute of Technology
Center for Innovation Systems & Policy, Vienna, Austria

NIFU – Nordic Institute for Studies in Innovation, Research and Education
Oslo, Norway

The Sapienza University of Rome
Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering Antonio Ruberti, Rome, Italy
Country Experts
Special Advisory
The work of the project team is also supported by the Technical Support Group (TSG) and the Methodological Working Group, both playing a strategic role in the success of ETER. The Technical Support Group comprises representatives from National Statistical Authorities, international organisations such as the OECD and other higher education data experts. This group provides advice on statistical methodologies, availability of data, data sources, data analysis and feasibility of inclusion of new data and promotes communication and dissemination of ETER reports through national systems. The smaller Methodological Working Group focuses on the methodological advancements for ETER, coming to an agreement on any identified methodological issues, before these are put forward for a discussion in the larger forum of the TSG.