Investing in research and innovation is investing in a sustainable and inclusive future. The EU’s aspirations to foster resilience and 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 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 pays close attention 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 and evaluating the implementation of Horizon Europe, in particular the work of the European Research Council, the European Innovation Council, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology and 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 both EU and national level. The Association is also preparing its input for the next R&I framework programme (FP10), through a new task and finish group. Finally, EUA monitors the implementation of other EU programmes that support research and innovation, notably the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Digital Europe Programme and the European Regional Development Fund.
During a previous 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, to 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. More recently, EUA outlined a series of recommendations aiming to improve Horizon Europe and contribute to the design of the programme that will succeed it.
EUA’s work in this area was notably informed by the findings of a consultation of the Association’s members for the mid-term review of Horizon 2020, the resulting vision paper and campaign for “EU funding for universities” and simplification. In addition to the new task and finish group, the Association continues to contribute to this topic through its ongoing work on Open Science, Innovation Ecosystems, and input from the EUA Research and Innovation Strategy 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.
The European university community warmly congratulates the UK Prime Minister and the President of the European Commission on the deal that has been reached for the UK to become an Associated Country in the Horizon Europe programme, which takes effect from 1 January 2024. We celebrate this...
view moreThe European University Association and Universities UK renew their united call on political leaders to reach a rapid agreement on UK participation in EU research programmes, as the ongoing delay is damaging pan-European research collaboration. The Windsor Framework, which paved the way for...
view moreAlongside fellow European higher education and research stakeholders, the European University Association has reacted to a recent statement from the Board of the European Innovation Council (EIC) on the Intellectual Property (IP) rules applicable to EIC Pathfinder and Transition projects. In a...
view moreOn 31 May, the second meeting of the European University Association task and finish group on the...
view moreThe European University Association (EUA) fully supports the environmental objectives outlined in the EU’s sustainable finance taxonomy regulation. However, broadening the application of the Do No Significant Harm principle to all projects under European R&I framework programmes (i.e. Horizon...
view moreThe European University Association (EUA) strongly welcomes the words of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, that the agreement on the Windsor Framework for Northern Ireland will unblock the association of the United Kingdom to European Union programmes, in particular...
view moreAs part of a recent public consultation conducted by the European Commission on the past, present and future of the European research and innovation framework programmes, the European University Association has outlined a series of recommendations aiming to improve Horizon Europe and contribute to...
view moreIn a new statement, the European University Association and CESAER, an association of universities of science and technology in Europe, have expressed their shared concern about the unbalanced share of funding for research projects within the Horizon Europe clusters under the programme’s second...
view moreToday, 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...
view moreThis report provides in-depth analysis of the results of the first-ever Europe-wide survey on...
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 moreAfter the longest negotiations ever on the seven-year EU budget, member states managed to find a compromise at the European summit on 10 December to overcome the veto of Hungary and Poland. The two countries had contested the mechanism linking the disbursement of EU funds to the respect...
view moreThe process to renew the European Research Area (ERA) is gathering pace and is set to continue in...
read moreThe European Parliament and EU Council negotiating team finally agreed on the EU’s multiannual financial framework, a process made more complex than ever this time due to the pandemic and the related new recovery package, the difficulties of striking a deal among member states, and the strongly...
view moreOn 30 September, the European Commission presented a package of three major initiatives aimed at unlocking Europe’s potential in education, research and innovation. The Commission published two dedicated Communications on the European Education Area and the European Research Area. It also...
view moreOn 24 September, the Association of ERC Grantees (AERG) was launched with the mission of highlighting, accelerating and defending fundamental research in Europe. The Association was launched at the EU’s Research and Innovation Days during an event titled "ERC of the future: Creating giant leaps...
view moreThe European Commission launched a public consultation to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to express their views on the future Interregional Innovation Investment (I3) initiative. The consultation period is open until 30 September. I3 intends to support regional innovation...
view moreFollowing its pledge to design Horizon Europe together with stakeholders, the European Commission...
read moreThe European University Association’s response to Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech Under President Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission has set an ambitious agenda for Europe, for the green and digital transitions of the continent and for Europe’s role in the world. These...
view moreInSPIREurope, the initiative to support, promote and integrate researchers at risk in Europe, organises the first InSPIREurope outreach workshop in Thessaloniki, Greece, on 30 September. The event will be organised in hybrid format: online and with face-to-face meetings at the premises of EUA...
view moreThis briefing looks at the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on higher education in Europe over the...
read moreThe European Parliament met on 23 July in an extraordinary plenary session to adopt a resolution declaring that it does not accept the budget deal made by EU leaders on 21 July. EUA welcomes the resolution and supports the European Parliament in its call for more funding for research, innovation...
view moreOn 21 July, EU leaders agreed on the next EU seven-year budget and the associated recovery plan after a long and difficult summit spanning over four days. The outcome reveals a failure to invest strategically in the future, with curtailed ambitions towards research, innovation and...
view moreEuropean leaders meet this week on 17-18 July with the goal of reaching an agreement on the European Union’s next seven-year budget and the related recovery plan to help the EU’s economy back on its feet. On this occasion, EUA and 14 partner university associations reiterate the urgent need to...
view moreThe Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) announced the third call of its international postdoctoral programme, IF@ULB, cofounded by the Horizon2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. The call is open until 15 September 2020. IF@ULB offers the opportunity to recruit 63 international postdoctoral...
view moreThe European Commission’s Industrial Strategy for Europe and the European Digital Strategy...
read moreThe Energy Policy and Development Centre (KEPA) of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Greece organises the 13th International Conference on Energy and Climate Change on 7-9 October 2020, with the 7th Green Energy Investments Forum taking place on the first day. Last year, the...
view moreThe University of Pisa presents five projects funded through the PRIMA programme for a total of 1.5 million euros. The research focuses on the management of water resources, sustainable agriculture and the food chain in the Mediterranean area. The University of Pisa is one of the institutions...
view moreCiTIUS, the Research Centre in Intelligent Technologies of the University of Santiago de Compostela, is willing to support one or more excellent researchers of any nationality interested in applying for a EU Marie Sklodowska Curie Individual Fellowship and continuing their scientific career in...
view moreThe EIC COVID-19 platform presents all the projects gathered during the #EUvsVirus hackathon, the European Commission’s initiative launched in April to connect civil society, innovators, partners and buyers across Europe to develop innovative solutions to overcome challenges related to...
view moreThe KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence (KIOS CoE), part of EUA Member University of Cyprus, developed and set up an “Emergency Management System for Handling Covid-19 Cases” in collaboration with the Cyprus Ministry of Health and the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and...
view moreEU Research & Innovation Framework Programmes’ (FPs) beneficiaries, including universities, research and technology organisations and businesses, launched a petition urging the European Institutions to take into consideration the major concerns raised by the proposed Horizon Europe Model Grant...
view moreINEA, the European Commission’s Innovation and Networks Executive Agency, launched an open call for proposals for the 2020 CEF Telecom European Platform for Digital Skills and Jobs (DSIs). The deadline has been extended from 12 May to 25 June, to provide potential applicants with more time to...
view moreThe 2020 InSPIREurope Stakeholder Forum, originally scheduled to take place at the Collège de France in Paris, will now take place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. Registrations are now open to the online event, which is the first of three annual fora taking place over the duration of...
view moreFriends of the ERC, an initiative in support of the European Research Council (ERC), launched a petition to call upon the Heads of States and Governments, to secure funding for the ERC in Horizon Europe, the next European framework programme for Research and Innovation. The petition is...
view moreThe Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Pisa Research Ecosystem signed a collaboration framework agreement on 8 April. Thanks to this agreement, the institutions from Pisa taking part will be able to collaborate effectively and at length with the JRC, contributing to the understanding and...
view moreDuring the coronavirus crisis, LIBER, the Association of European Research Libraries, calls on European Commissioners, Member State governments, publishers and authors to urgently help libraries, universities and other educational establishments, so that they can continue supplying researchers,...
view moreThe President of the European Research Council (ERC), Mauro Ferrari, resigned on 7 April citing his dissatisfaction with the EU response to the coronavirus crisis. Ferrari proposed using the ERC for targeted funding related to the crisis. This would have been against the purpose and rules of...
view moreThe European Commission launched EUvsVirus, a pan-European non-profit online hackathon on 24, 25 and 26 April to connect civil society, innovators, partners and buyers across Europe to develop innovative solutions to overcome coronavirus-related challenges. Universities are invited to...
view moreThe coronavirus pandemic has implications for student and staff mobility and projects funded by EU programmes such as Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020. Several application deadlines for Erasmus+ have been extended. Furthermore, the Commission announced to apply maximum flexibility in the...
view moreBuilding synergies between education, research and innovation across disciplines is crucial to...
read moreThe European Research Council Executive Agency (ERCEA) is organising a call for expression of interest for Seconded National Experts. The objective is to establish a reserve list of approximately four candidates for each profile: Scientific Support to ERC Ethics Officer Life...
view moreThe Research Data Rights Summit took place in Paris on 27 January. Organised by Sorbonne University, the University of Amsterdam and University College London, all EUA members, the event brought together nine networks of research-intensive universities from around the world. Held on the...
view moreUNA Europa, a strategic alliance of eight EUA member universities from across Europe, is celebrating the launch of its project 1Europe with an event in Brussels on 22 January. The consortium composed of KU Leuven, Complutense University of Madrid, the University of Edinburgh, FU Berlin, the...
view moreIn an important new step towards a final decision on the European Union’s financial framework for 2021-2027, the Finnish presidency of the EU Council released its proposal for the bloc’s future budget. Referred to as a “negotiating box”, the proposal includes figures for the overall budget as well...
view moreAs negotiations continue on the future Horizon Europe programme, the discussion on the Model Grant...
read moreIn November, EUA published the joint call “Seize our common future”, which it launched with 14 other university networks. The call gathered over 300 signatories, including 25 national university associations. EUA presented the call to both to the outgoing and incoming EU Commissioners for...
view moreMariya Gabriel, Commissioner-designate for Innovation and Youth, was well-received during her official hearing in the European Parliament on 30 September. As the College of Commissioners awaits final approval, Gabriel has already begun meetings with key stakeholders. This week she sat down with...
view moreESFRI, the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures, has launched a two-year process to complete its Roadmap 2021 Update. The update will focus on the inclusion of new research infrastructure projects and the evolution of research infrastructures already on the roadmap. The ESFRI...
view moreKnowledge Exchange (KE) is an umbrella organisation with partners in six European countries that work to enable the use of digital technologies to improve higher education and research. They recently released the report "Accelerating scholarly communication - The transformative role of preprints"....
view moreThe UK will join the EU’s Horizon Europe programme in January 2024. Rebuilding collaboration,...
read moreStephane Berghmans argues that it is time for the European Research Area to leave the Brussels...
read 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...
read moreGrants are important for researchers’ careers and only the best applicants receive them. So, what...
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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