The Vice-Presidents welcomed Julien Guerrier, Director of the Common Policy Centre at the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) to discuss the European Commission’s public consultation process on the past, present and future of the EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. In the discussion, Guild Vice-Presidents emphasised the importance of fundamental research for Europe’s competitiveness. They also shared some feedback from The Guild working groups, ahead of publication in the upcoming weeks. Finally, Vice-Presidents also emphasised the critical importance of Swiss and UK association of Horizon Europe – a core component on Horizon Europe ‘past, present and future’.
A further timely discussion took place with Marja Makarow, President of the Academia Europeana and Board member of the European Innovation Council (EIC). In a very wide-ranging discussion about the European Innovation Council and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), Vice-Presidents discussed how the EU can better support, through the EIC and the EIT, the unique contribution of universities to the innovation ecosystem. Vice-Presidents also continued the dialogue on the joint submission by a number of university associations, co-led by The Guild, to demand a change of IP rules for EIC grantees.
A final key item of discussion focused on the EU’s Global Approach for research and innovation. In this context, Vice-Presidents compared institutional and national experiences in addressing the threat of foreign interference. They discussed the importance of universities in implementing the science and technology agenda of the Global Gateway. And finally, they considered how to develop further ideas for Clusters of Excellence between researchers in universities in Africa and Europe.
Jan Palmowski, Secretary-General of The Guild, said: ‘The Vice-Presidents’ meeting proved to be invaluable for developing our common views at this crucial point in the policy-cycle, as stakeholders’ input on Horizon Europe’s past, present and future needs to be finalised. This process will be a key – if early – building bloc to discussions about the next framework programme for research and innovation, so it is critical The Guild and other R&I stakeholders engage in this process loudly, clearly, and with rich input.
17 January 2023
