2023

In its contribution to the Erasmus+ interim evaluation, The Guild member universities highlight the growing importance of the programme in times of increased polarisation. Ambitious mobility targets and inclusion rates, coupled with the calls for pedagogical innovation, will require an increased investment in Erasmus+. The paper provides insights into how the programme could be further developed based on the lessons learned and by identifying areas where additional efforts could create a distinctive impact.

In a dynamic two-day session, The Guild Gender and Diversity Working Group met in Brussels to address pressing issues, exchange insights, and forge a path toward a more inclusive future in the research and innovation landscape. The meeting, held at The Guild office in Brussels, was pivotal in promoting collaboration and sharing best practices among our member universities.

On the 1st of December 2023, Université PSL proudly becomes the newest member of The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, reinforcing its commitment to academic excellence, research, and European collaboration. The Guild now consists of 22 research-intensive universities.

Leading research-intensive universities in Europe underscore the importance of responsible international collaboration in the free pursuit of knowledge. While research excellence thrives on open collaboration, concern is rising about security, reciprocity, and potential dual-use applications. The Guild acknowledges these concerns, nevertheless we stress that measures to mitigate risks must not thwart our ambitions to address pressing global challenges. Any risks of international collaboration must be balanced with the risks of non-collaboration. We advocate for an approach that enhances trust, understanding and collaboration between researchers, universities, and public authorities.

Representing a large part of the university sector, and as active participants in the ERA Forum, especially in the context of the European Research Area (ERA) Action 4 on Research Careers, we jointly welcome the European Commission proposal for a Council Recommendation on a European framework to attract and retain talents in Europe. Here we provide the Commission with comments for further improvement.

Last week, The Guild’s Presidents gathered at the University of Oslo for our Autumn General Assembly to discuss how research-intensive universities can best support the EU in addressing societal challenges and how they can foster equitable international partnerships and fundamental research.

The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities (The Guild) have launched three new Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE). This is a direct response to the formal launch of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda, which acknowledged the importance of research and education – including in the social sciences and humanities – for achieving the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and the AU’s Agenda 2063. The three new Clusters join the Africa-Europe CoREs launched by both networks last June, bringing the total number of Clusters up to 20, now involving over 250 researchers in 60 Universities as well as research institutes.

In a world where technology is rapidly reshaping our lives and environmental concerns are reaching a critical point, it has become essential to grasp the intricate relationship between the digital and green transitions to twin them and make use of their potential synergies.

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From 6-7 September, Babeș-Bolyai University (UBB) hosted The Guild’s Vice-Presidents for the first time since joining the network. The meeting’s agenda included discussions on capacity building opportunities in FP10, Romania’s national R&I strategy, the launch of the Africa-Europe clusters of research excellence and the European Universities initiative.

The Guild praises the European Parliament’s vote on 12 September 2023 to appoint Iliana Ivanova as Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. It is of crucial importance that the position previously held by Mariya Gabriel is now taken over by a dedicated Commissioner who will demonstrate political ownership and leadership in EU policies in research, innovation, and education.

After nearly three years of delay, the Government of the United Kingdom and the European Commission today announced an agreement in principle for the UK’s full association to Horizon Europe. We are thrilled to see Prime Minister Rishi Sunak setting out the encouraging benefits of this agreement at The University of Warwick, one of three universities based in the UK that are part of The Guild’s membership of 21 distinguished universities from across sixteen countries in Europe.

In the past year, The Guild achieved remarkable progress and achievements in advocating for a sustainable and ambitious R&I and higher education landscape in Europe and beyond. The Guild's Annual Report for 2022-2023 stresses our major contributions to European programmes, such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus+. It offers broader reflections on the European Education Area as well as the European Research Area. Additionally, The Guild's commitment to equitable global partnerships is showcased including its unique collaboration with the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and the creation of Clusters of Research Excellence.

On the day of the European Education & Innovation Summit, research and innovation organisations respond to the EIC Board statement on the revision of the EIC intellectual property provisions.

The insight paper looks into the triptych of transnational collaboration, innovation and policy implications. It draws on evidence from research and examples of programme activities from the experience of Guild member universities. Read the full paper >>

At their recent summit in Brussels, the Vice-Chancellors and Presidents of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities (The Guild) have launched seventeen research clusters that aim to transform the nature of collaborative research, foregrounding equity as a precondition for excellent and impactful research to address our common societal challenges.

The Guild is pleased to announce the reappointment of its Secretary-General Jan Palmowski for a new five-year term in office. As he continues his role as a Professor at the University of Warwick, he will take a year-long sabbatical to focus on his research from 1 August 2023. The Guild is delighted to welcome Ole Petter Ottersen as Acting Secretary-General (from 1 August 2023 – 31 July 2024).

In a joint effort to foster equitable research partnerships and realise the sustainable development of Africa and Europe, universities and research organisations from all parts of Africa and Europe urge the African Union and the European Union to embrace a comprehensive, long-term vision for the Global Gateway’s AU-EU Innovation Agenda and pilot an integrated Africa-EU Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Programme for the period 2023-2027.

The Guild shares the concerns expressed by LERU and EU-LIFE in their joint statement on the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “Save Cruelty-free Cosmetics – Commit to a Europe without Animal Testing”.

As associations of universities and university libraries, we call on co-legislators engaged in interinstitutional negotiations on the EU Data Act to ensure that the legislation is inclusive and recognises the specific needs of research and research organisations.

The chances and challenges of digitalisation make the higher education landscape very dynamic. The University of Bern embraces the opportunities and challenges of digitalisation and wants to actively, critically and sustainably shape digital transformation. One step towards this future is the EvInCo project (Evidence based digitalised teaching, digitally supported Interaction and collaboration, and an eCoaches programme).

Dr. Etna Krakenberger, Dr. Kerstin Nebel and Dr. Julia Hegy.

The Guild expresses its concerns over the current financial unsustainability of the academic publishing system in Europe. The rise of open-access models requiring article-processing charges (APCs) has worsened the issue, contributing to inequalities and dissuading researchers from publishing their work in the most appropriate outlets.