This paper positions interdisciplinarity as an integral feature of contemporary scientific research, stressing its role and the necessity to overcome possible barriers related to organizational and institutional constraints, team integration imperatives or disciplinary boundaries. At the same time, the study makes an inventory of European and Romanian opportunities in interdisciplinary research, especially under the Seventh Framework Programme for Research. As a case study, the paper introduces the interdisciplinary project carried out by Constantin Brancoveanu University in Pitesti to draw Pitesti City Development Strategy for 2007-2013. All disciplines involved are presented through their interactions in the project, with a special attention given to repeated and constant attractions between specializations. The final conclusion is that Management plays a core role in any type of interdisciplinary project, acting as facilitator of teams’ integration. Therefore, interdisciplinarity could work only where the practice of collaboration is nourished by the leader of the team, using specialized managerial integration tools.

The purpose of this study is to explore different patterns of knowledge circulation between universities, public research organizations (PROs) and businesses in the EU27. To this end, a Knowledge circulation index was created based on funding flows (business funded R&D in higher education and government sectors), co-operation-based innovation indicators, bibliometric data and patent statistics. The results have confirmed a leading position for Finland, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, the UK and Slovenia, countries with a long tradition in knowledge transfer, but with a sustainable base for networks and links between all innovation actors. The paper advances some future paths to action, such as rising up SMEs’ profile in knowledge circulation, finding the best coordination matrix for already existent support network or finding solutions to reduce the strong dependence on public and EU funding.