Universities contribute to the development of regional innovation ecosystems in various ways, such as enhancing regional innovation performance through their research activities, playing a crucial role in developing, attracting and retaining human talent, promoting business, and improving social equity. Their direct and indirect contributions go far beyond marketable products, including innovation in education, culture and social welfare.
That is why EUA is working closely with members across Europe to reinforce regional networks, foster university-business collaboration and support regional innovation initiatives, including smart specialisation strategies. The Association is doing this in close consultation with its Expert Group on Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation through a number of events and activities involving university leaders, regional and national policy makers and other stakeholders interested in regional innovation.
Promoting European innovation ecosystems is also a key priority area of the Ninth Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Horizon Europe). In this context, EUA is working to strengthen the strategic role that universities play in innovation ecosystems, specifically through its dedicated project on the topic, and to contribute to the shape of research and innovation strategies for smart specialisation beyond 2020. Its main recommendations for actions to improve the effectiveness of European regional research and innovation initiatives are formulated in the EUA policy position on smart specialisation strategies and in the EUA statement on the future of innovation ecosystems.
Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3) have been a useful tool in developing innovation ecosystems in many regions in Europe. Smart specialisation is an innovative approach that aims to increase economic growth in Europe, by helping regions to identify and develop their own competitive advantages. Through its bottom-up approach, smart specialisation brings together universities, businesses, public authorities and civil society around various priorities aimed at regional development.
Within the EU Cohesion Policy, smart specialisation is an enabling condition for regions to receive funding from the European Structural and Investment Funds. The purpose of this prerequisite is to allocate funds in more efficient way and to reinforce synergies between different EU, national and regional policies and funds.
EUA is actively involved in promoting the role of universities in the design, implementation and evaluation of RIS3 strategies. The Association gives also crucial importance to the need to achieve greater synergy between the future Horizon Europe programme and the European Structural and Investment Funds to support research and innovation activities. In order to support the active involvement of the university sector in the creation of European innovation ecosystems, EUA set up an Expert Group on Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation.
Facilitating access to knowledge by sharing research results and improving knowledge transfer between research institutions and industry is a key for creation of innovation ecosystems. It was also identified as one of the objectives of the European Research Area.
One of EUA’s main priorities is to find ways to strengthen university collaboration with the business sector. The need to establish a more “trust-based partnership” between universities and businesses is key to turning more research results into goods and services for the benefit of our society.
EUA has developed a substantial amount of work in university-business partnerships, specifically through the EUIMA-Collaborative Research project and the Responsible Partnering Initiative.
The next six months will be an important period for policy makers, the university sector and many other stakeholders engaged in Research and Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3).
To maximise the effectiveness of Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3) in developing regional innovation ecosystems, it is important to fully capitalise on tangible and intangible assets that universities offer for the benefit of culture, society and the economy of their regions.
The next six months are an important period for policy makers, the university sector and many other stakeholders engaged in Research and Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3). With the ongoing preparations for the EU’s 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, the European...
view moreThe European University Association (EUA) welcomes the European Commission Joint Research...
read moreEUA welcomes the European Commission Joint Research Centre’s report on “A Regional Innovation Impact: Assessment Framework for universities”. The report provides initial input to the discussion on EU-level regional innovation performance-based funding of universities and a related assessment...
view moreIn this reaction to the European Commission’s Communication on “Artificial...
read moreOn 7 March 2018, the EUA Expert Group on Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3) met in Brussels to discuss recent developments in this policy area. A joint workshop between EUA and Science|Business on the topic of synergies between EU framework and cohesion funding...
view moreThis document sets out the response of the European University Association (EUA) to the EC public consultation on smart specialisation. EUA has prepared this response in consultation with its Expert Group on Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3) and its Research Policy...
read moreThe European University Association (EUA) appreciates the European Commission’s interest in fostering innovation in Europe and welcomes the discussion on ideas for a European Innovation Council (EIC). EUA believes that a comprehensive strategy for facilitating well-functioning regional,...
read moreThis report presents the outcomes of the first meeting of EUA’s Expert Group on Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3). It specifically makes recommendations for actions relevant to universities and public authorities at regional, national and European levels....
read moreAll universities are significantly dependent upon public funding as a major source of support for their research programmes. The difference between private and public universities is in the nature of their accountability for public funding. Whereas a private university is only...
read moreThe modernisation process of universities has historically highlighted the necessity of providing support structures to facilitate contacts and relationships between research groups and the outside environment, with the objective of increasing the quantity and improving the quality of...
read moreThe EUIMA Collaborative Research project used two complementary approaches to collect data on university-business cooperation – in-depth case studies through questionnaires and workshops. The project aimed at identifying main trends and cross-cutting issues in the long-term collaborative...
read moreHow universities can be part of smart specialisation was the question discussed by participants at a major Commission conference on 20 June 2014. The President of the European University Association (EUA) told over 300 stakeholders that it was the first time universities had been addressed jointly...
read moreOn 21 and 22 February 2013 at the premises of the European Commission Joint Research Centre, the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS), in Seville (Spain) a group of experts from regions and universities with experience of cooperation in research and innovation debated...
read moreThis Handbook describes a voluntary programme of Responsible Partnering aimed at improving strategic collaboration and knowledge exchange between companies and publicly-funded research organizations (for convenience, referred to as PROs), including Universities, Research and...
read moreEUA commissioned this study entitled The Rise of Knowledge Regions: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges for Universities with the aim of understanding the current role of universities and future potential of universities in regional knowledge development and the study also includes a...
read moreResearch Strategy Development in European Universities grew out of EUA’s study Trends IV: European Universities Implementing Bologna (2005) which, in the course of analysing how universities are responding to the challenges of implementing the Bologna reforms, highlighted how few...
read moreThis Handbook describes a voluntary programme of Responsible Partnering aimed at improving the organisation, management and overall effectiveness of joint research and strategic knowledge transfer activities involving public research organisations and companies. The Handbook contains...
read moreInnovation is key to tackling today’s challenges, and it is a main driver for economic and societal development locally as well as globally. Innovation...
Read moreThe European University Association (EUA) is organising a Focus Group for university leaders across Europe to discuss the role of universities in innovation...
Read moreOrganised by EUA in collaboration with Universities Austria (UNIKO) and the Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI) within the framework of the EUA...
Read more2017 marked a crucial year for universities engaged in regional innovation. European policy-makers, the university sector and many other stakeholders are...
Read moreThe Workshop on “Universities as motors of innovation in Central and Eastern Europe” was the second in a series of workshops jointly organised by...
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