Publications – Position Papers

Position paper | 8 October 2026

The Guild calls for the introduction of Scale-Up Research Actions (SUPRA) in FP10 to support curiosity-driven collaborative frontier research and strengthen Europe's scientific leadership.

Position paper | 1 July 2026

The Guild shares its position on the introduction of dual use in FP10, outlining the safeguards needed to preserve Horizon Europe's civilian character, research excellence and openness while responding to Europe's evolving security challenges.

Position paper | 21 May 2026

The Guild shares its recommendations for Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence in FP10.

Position paper | 5 May 2026

The Guild shares its vision for the upcoming ERA Act.

Position paper | 29 April 2026

The Guild and the European Research Alliance for Sustainable Development (ERASuD) welcome the EU’s ambition for the Global Europe Instrument and urge EU institutions to fully unlock the potential for research, innovation and higher education in Europe’s international partnerships.

Position paper | 26 March 2026

On the first anniversary of the adoption of the European Health Data Space (EHDS), The Guild calls for a successful implementation at the national level to enhance cross-border health research.

Position paper | 11 March 2026

The Guild shares its vision and key considerations for the new Data Union Strategy and Digital Omnibus.

Position paper | 18 February 2026

The Guild, together with sixteen other higher education organisations propose amendments to the Commissions Erasmus+ (2028 - 2034) proposal.

Position paper | 1 December 2025

The Guild, together with other organisations representing Europe’s research and innovation community present a coordinated set of amendments to the European Commission’s proposals for the 10th EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10).

Position Paper | 25 September 2025

The Guild welcomes the European Commission’s proposal for a stand-alone Horizon Europe 2028-34 (FP10). As EU policymakers now address key questions opened up by the proposal itself, and its relation to the European Competitiveness Fund, The Guild asserts six priority areas that must not be compromised.

Position Paper | 24 September 2025

The Guild welcomes the European Commission’s proposal for the Erasmus+ programme (2028–34), published in July 2025. While the proposal marks an important step forward, The Guild urges the Commission to address several critical issues to ensure the programme’s success.

Position Paper | 8 September 2025

As threats to academic freedom intensify worldwide, The Guild urges the EU and national governments to take firm steps to safeguard academic freedom and strengthen Europe’s appeal to top researchers.

Position Paper | July 2025

European citizens need to be well-connected with the knowledge, skills and competences necessary to thrive despite the uncertainty of a dynamically changing society. The international dimension of Erasmus+ plays a key role in building societies that are more resilient and based on mutual trust and intercultural understanding. 

Joint position paper | 03 July 2025

European R&I networks call for a complementary FP10 and European Competitiveness Fund.

Position Paper | 25 February 2025

As the EU shapes its new skills strategy, The Guild highlights key actions to empower research-intensive universities. Our recommendations focus on refocusing EIT’s KICs, enhancing EIC support, expanding MSCA funding, and strengthening Erasmus+ to foster transversal skills

Position Paper | 23 January 2025

The Guild presents key recommendations for the next Erasmus+ programme (2028–2034), focusing on simplifying the grant system, enhancing global mobility, promoting sustainability, and increasing transparency. These proposals aim to make Erasmus+ more fair, inclusive, and impactful for students across Europe and beyond

Position Paper | 19 November 2024

How can Europe harness the power of AI in research while keeping it responsible and human-centered? The Guild’s position paper outlines key strategies to advance AI innovation ethically, enhance research productivity, and strengthen Europe’s global leadership. Explore how responsible AI can drive transformative research across disciplines.

Position Paper | 15 May 2024

The European Union is about to start negotiations for its tenth framework programme for research and innovation (FP10). The Guild urges for a future-oriented outlook on FP10. The framework programme must be geared towards building Europe’s competitiveness and resilience based on its scientific leadership.

Position Paper | 11 December 2023

In this position paper, The Guild shares its recommendations for Erasmus+, as part of the interim evaluation of the programme launched by the European Commission.

Position Paper | 22 February 2023

In this position paper, The Guild shares its recommendations for Horizon Europe, as part of the interim evaluation of the programme launched by the European Commission.

Position Paper | 14 February 2023

In this position paper, The Guild shares its priorities for digital and artifical intelligence research in Horizon Europe.

Position Paper | 7 February 2023

In this position paper, The Guild shares its priorities for health research in Horizon Europe’s pillar 2.

Position Paper | 31 January 2023

As a contribution to the European Commission consultation on the Horizon Europe programme, The Guild calls for a stronger role of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities (SSAH) research to address some of the most existential challenges Europeans face today.

Position Paper | 17 March 2022

The Guild welcomes the European Commission's communication to the European Parliament's resolution on the use of animals in research.

Position Paper | 28 June 2021

To address the obstacles data-intensive medical research is facing, The Guild presents recommendations for the European Commission to shape the EHDS.

Position Paper | 15 September 2020

In response to the European Commission consultation, The Guild’s Health Deans advocate for the development of a framework that would facilitate the pursuit of multinational clinical studies within the EU.

Position Paper | 13 July 2020

The Guild provides guiding principles for strengthening teaching and learning at the European level.

Concept Note | 9 July 2020

The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and The Guild call for sustainable investment in African knowledge societies by creating Centres of Excellence (CoE) to confront common challenges for both continents.

Position Paper | 4 March 2020

The Guild outlines key priorities and principles that must be at the core of a renewed European Research Area (ERA).

Position Paper | 18 February 2020

The Guild and ARUA outline key proposals and principles for a future EU-Africa partnership.

Position Papers | 7 October 2019

The Guild provides feedback on the proposed changes for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) in Horizon Europe.

Position Paper | 23 September 2019

The Guild identifies priority areas for Horizon Europe’s new instrument – the Excellence initiatives.

Position Paper | 20 June 2019

As a contribution to Horizon Europe’s Strategic Planning process, The Guild outlines five priority areas for this cluster: (1) Artificial Intelligence; (2) Advanced computing; (3) Manufacturing; (4) Advanced materials; and (5) Space.

Position Paper | 6 June 2019

For each of the priority areas, the paper identifies the challenges our societies face today, the expected impact of collaborative R&I, and the R&I orientations that will contribute to their achievement. These priorities will maximise EU added value and amplify the societal impact of Horizon Europe.

Position Paper | 2 May 2019

With these recommendations, The Guild builds on its submission to the Plan S consultation, contributing to a wider debate about how Plan S can help realise the ambitions of Open Science.

Position Paper | 9 April 2019

The challenges related to democratic development, societal transformations and cultural openness will have a considerable impact on the well-being of citizens, social cohesion and competitiveness of Europe in the coming decades. Therefore, it is vital that the Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society cluster receives substantial funding in Horizon Europe.

Position Paper | 9 April 2019

The document aims at helping decision-makers translate the legal framework into practices that would allow Horizon Europe to succeed in its mission.

Position Paper | 12 November 2018

The Guild welcomes the European Commission’s proposal for the next Erasmus programme (2021-2027) and its vision to work towards a European Education Area by 2025.

Position Paper | 31 August 2018

The Guild calls for a firm approach from the co-legislators to guarantee that fostering scientific excellence remains the core objective of the programme.

Position Paper | 23 March 2018

The Guild supports the European Universities initiative to boost the competitiveness of the European higher education sector. The creation of collaborative flagships, distinguished by high-quality education and research excellence, will bring a step-change to the Bologna process through the mutual recognition of degrees and the removal of barriers to mobility.

Position Paper | 7 March 2018

Our commitment to excellence in research and innovation must be inclusive: excellence should be fostered and strengthened wherever it exists, in all countries and regions of Europe.

Position Paper | 22 February 2018

Ahead of the establishment of the European Innovation Council (EIC), we urge that the role of universities as part of the innovation ecosystems be recognised and strengthened. Responding to the proposed creation of the EIC, we are calling for EU policy to be even bolder in bringing science and innovation closer together.

Position Paper | 14 December 2017

The Guild welcomes the new mission-oriented approach to challenge-driven research in the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP9). Formulating missions that address the concerns of European citizens, contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and foster interdisciplinary and transnational research excellence holds great potential to build on the successes of the current and past framework programmes.

Position paper | 14 December 2017

This document presents proposals for missions for the EU’s next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP9) stemming from the academic communities of The Guild’s nineteen member universities.

Position paper | 12 June 2017

The European Union provides outstanding added value to research, innovation, and education. No other continent, no other group of states has developed such a capacity to bring together the best minds across borders to solve major challenges, create knowledge, and acquire new skills. The budget for research and innovation in the next Framework Programme (FP9) needs to be increased to €130bn as the EU must concentrate on areas where it provides the most added value to Member States.

Position paper | 31 May 2017

In its submission to the Interim Evaluation of Erasmus+, The Guild emphasises the importance of raising the aspirations for the programme. Erasmus+ must reach its full potential to serve the present and future needs of European citizens in a fast-changing world.

Position paper | 2 March 2017

Research and Education are part of the foundation of European public life. They are predicated on values, trust, and the pursuit of truth, without which our institutions and our interactions cannot function. The next Framework Programme must strengthen frontier-led science. We must also be bold in addressing the structural and cultural impediments to research excellence in all parts of Europe.