The Virtual Institutes (VIs) are a completely new way of approaching and solving a given challenge: they are  joint Institutes “without physical walls” hosting international inter-disciplinary teams of students, teachers, researchers and innovators from the seven universities composing the EC2U Alliance. This concept aims at fostering the rapid integration of research results and/or innovation into education via the new challenge-based curricula and a diversity of short-term trainings, such as internships, summer/winter schools, workshops, etc. These knowledge-creating teams will deliver innovative solutions to local, national, European and global challenges.