Investing in research and innovation is investing in a sustainable and inclusive future. The EU’s aspirations to foster resilience, accelerate the green and digital transitions, as well as strengthen the European Research Area through research and innovation, have never been higher. The design and implementation of the EU research and innovation programmes are crucial to deliver on those ambitions.
EUA is a recognised stakeholder in the development of the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation. The Association dedicates its attention widely to these strategic programmes, gathering feedback from university members across the continent, providing input to policy makers and campaigning for the recognition of its vision and recommendations.
Currently, EUA is monitoring the implementation of Horizon Europe, and in particular the work of the European Research Council, the European Innovation Council, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology as well as the implementation of missions and partnerships. It is also monitoring the programme in relation to impactful simplification, the concrete implementation of synergies across EU funding programmes as well as alignment among funding organisations at EU and national level.
Within its campaign, EUA participated in all major European-level dialogues as the Horizon Europe programme took shape. The Association provided detailed input on how to best design the programme structure and the rules for participation. Its recommendations paved the way for an excellent, open and inclusive Horizon Europe. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, EUA called for adequate funding for the programme as this will strengthen the strategic resilience of Europe, reinforce its knowledge base, support innovation ecosystems, and address the challenge of underfunding. The Association also successfully campaigned for an acceptable internal balance within the Horizon Europe programme, preserving the importance of funding to fundamental research.
EUA’s work in this area is highly informed by the findings of its member consultation for the mid-term review of Horizon 2020 and the resulting vision paper, its campaign for “EU funding for universities”, its contribution to the renewal of the European Research Area, its ongoing work on Open Science, Innovation Ecosystems, Energy and Environment, and contributions by the EUA Research Policy Working Group.
The European University Association welcomes the European Commission’s Communication on A New European Innovation Agenda, notably as an overarching innovation agenda is needed to tackle specific bottlenecks which stunt Europe’s innovation performance, and to achieve consistency and effective implementation of the various tools available for this purpose.
A European Green Deal that achieves its purpose must be science-driven, with suitable mechanisms for the provision of scientific advice and the boosting of scientific literacy among citizens and policy makers.
Today, the Council of the European Union adopted Conclusions on the New European Innovation Agenda. The European University Association (EUA) welcomes this decision and notes the emphasis on a broader range of innovation processes and stakeholders that should have been included in the Agenda from...
view moreOn 14 October, members of a new group tasked with guiding the European University Association’s...
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read moreTogether with prominent scientists, university rectors and national university associations, EUA has joined “Stick to Science”, a campaign launched on 8 February at the Science Business Annual Conference. It calls for rapid Horizon Europe association agreements for the UK and...
view moreThe current standstill in the association of Switzerland to the Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ programmes is disadvantageous for both Switzerland and the European Union in terms of lost opportunities. Switzerland plays a key role in advancing European research and education. European universities...
view moreEUA, CESAER and EARTO have released a joint statement following the publication of the European Commission’s Assessment of the Lump Sum Pilot 2018 - 2020: Analysis of qualitative and quantitative feedback. This interim analysis concludes that lump sum funding works in practice and can be used...
view moreOn 15 November, the European Parliament and Council of the EU reached an agreement on the size and allocation of next year’s budget. Striking the deal was important, as failure to do so would have required the Commission to release a new proposal, significantly delaying the process. The outcome...
view moreOn 4 November, EUA and two dozen other networks and associations published a letter to the European Commission voicing the united wish of the European knowledge sector for the UK to associate to the Horizon Europe programme. This follows an October statement from EUA and its collective members,...
view moreThe European Union and the United Kingdom benefit from joint research and innovation, as well as interconnected universities that strive for excellence and cooperation. Europe’s universities are united in their call to safeguard this research and innovation cooperation through fast association of...
view moreEUA together with other European research and innovation organisations have published an open letter addressed to the EU institutions expressing the urgent need to include R&I stakeholders in the governance of the renewed European Research Area (ERA). The letter comes at a crucial time as...
view moreUpdate: the new draft annotated grant agreement was published on 30 November 2021, with changes to articles 1 to 6 and article 20. On 23 July, the European Commission released the long-awaited annotated grant agreement, which provides guidance to Horizon Europe applicants. While the first...
view moreThe European Commission hosted the European Research and Innovation Days on 23-24 June. EUA participated in the event through various activities. Notably, EUA President Michael Murphy joined Commissioner Mariya Gabriel as a speaker in the special plenary session “Towards a European Strategy for...
view moreOn 16 June 2021, the European Commission adopted the long-awaited main work programme of Horizon Europe for 2021-2022. It sets out funding opportunities with the total amount of €14.7 billion, most of which will be invested in research and innovation to accelerate the green and digital...
view moreThe European Commission and the European Research Executive Agency (REA) organise the online event “European Green Deal Cluster Event” on 6 and 7 July 2021. Registrations are now open and free of charge. The event will bring together excellent projects and researchers funded under the Marie...
view moreIn this EUA response to the European Commission Communication on a Global Approach to Research and...
read moreThe European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) organises a virtual launch event of the book “Regional Innovation Impact of Universities” on 18 June. Registrations are now open and free to anyone interested. EUA Director for Research and Innovation Stephane Berghmans will be one of the...
view moreOn 17 May 2021, the Education Ministers of EU member states adopted Council Conclusions on the European Universities Initiative. The Council Conclusions come at a crucial point as the mid-term evaluation of the first 17 alliances is approaching and important decisions will soon have to be made...
view moreALLEA, the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities, organises the scientific symposium ‘Across Boundaries in Sciences’, organised on the occasion of the 2021 ALLEA General Assembly together with the Council of Finnish Academies on 5 May. The online event is open to all upon...
view moreThe STREAM online training platform, which provides training materials based on the European Recognition Manual for Higher Education Institutions (EAR-HEI manual), is open for a second round of training. The platform is specifically geared towards admissions officers working in higher...
view moreThe Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA) organises the free webinar “Academia & Industry: Innovation Models" on 20 April from 15.00 to 17.00 CEST. Registrations are now open. Collaboration between universities and industry is an essential component of a balanced...
view moreThe European Association of Research Managers and Administrators (EARMA) organises the EARMA Digital Conference 2021 on 14 – 20 April. Registrations are now open. The five-days event will gather the most relevant and informative speakers in research management and administration sharing their...
view moreThis EUA policy input aims to inform the upcoming European Commission Communication on a global...
read moreThe European University Alliance E³UDRES² (Engaged and Entrepreneurial European University as Driver for European Smart and Sustainable Regions) celebrates its official Online Opening Conference “Towards Future Universities for Smart and Sustainable Regions” on 22-23 March 2021, from 13:00 to...
view moreEUA member Universities Denmark, together with the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science, have drawn up a set of principles and recommendations to aid and guide parties collaborating on research. The universities’ collaboration with companies, organisations and government agencies...
view moreThe universities of the EuroTech Universities Alliance, a strategic partnership of universities of science & technology, offer seventy Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowships to experienced high-potential researchers as part of the EuroTechPostdoc2 programme. Besides giving the fellows the...
view moreAs learning pathways are increasingly international, the recognition of qualifications and credits...
read moreThe European Commission aims at developing a “European strategy for universities” to strengthen...
read moreThe new ERA will need to bring all sides to the table so that we can shape the future of Europe’s...
read moreEurope’s universities are upping their game for the new decade, to meet the challenges of our...
read moreIn this article, the EUA Secretary General contributes to UIIN’s newly released “The Future...
read moreDuring the Covid-19 crisis, universities innovated greatly in various fields to bring solutions to...
read moreEurope must connect its ambition of being a digital leader with initiatives already happening at...
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read moreEurope’s universities are transnational in outlook, international in their collaborative...
read moreThe European Universities Initiative is a great opportunity to deepen collaboration and revive the...
read moreThe new European Commission must make research, education and innovation a priority as it sets out...
read moreEurope must boost its investment in research and innovation, argue the European University...
read moreAs the results of the EU elections become clearer, EUA’s Thomas Jorgensen discusses the major...
read moreIn uncertain times with anti-EU movements and Brexit negotiations, the EU institutions must make...
read moreLidia Borrell-Damián from the European University Association argues the European Commission’s...
read moreThe European Commission’s proposal for the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation...
read moreThe proposal for the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, also known as Horizon...
read moreAs the Rector of the University of Groningen, and an economist, I am often asked why universities...
read moreResearch and education should be among the easier elements of the Brexit negotiations, argue Paul...
read moreAs Europe decides how to best invest in the future of research and innovation, it is clear that...
read moreDirector of Research and Innovation, European University Association, Lidia Borrell-Damián shares...
read moreInvestment in research and education not only brings the highest European added value, it is also...
read moreThe lack of funding needed to achieve Europe’s widely advertised ambitions for global excellence...
read moreWhen we think of how Europe can best invest in research and innovation, we often instinctively...
read moreEurope needs more ambitious research funding, or risks losing precious knowledge, writes Rolf...
read moreIn the top 50 performing participants in Horizon 2020, 4.2 billion euros went to 37 universities,...
read moreThe current state of the European Union demands new political thinking and action – not just...
read moreHorizon 2020 plays a significant part in developing the research and innovation capacity of the...
read moreFor the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), participation in Horizon 2020 is a...
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