In an open letter, the German (HRK), French (CPU) and Polish (CRASP) Rectors' Conferences called on the EU Commissioner for Research and Innovation Policy to seize the opportunity to create European university networks. They expressed their disappointment that the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation is yet to get involved in the new initiative.
"We fear that the opportunity to combine research and innovation with strong teaching is being missed," says HRK President Prof Dr Horst Hippler. "Now that the Commission encouragingly proposed increasing expenditure on research and innovation programmes, Horizon Europe and the Erasmus+ programme, the time has come to strengthen education, research and innovation in Europe."
"It is the shared opinion of the three Rectors' Conferences that the new programme for European university networks inspired by the French President could become an important factor as the missing link in better integrating the European Research Area and the European Higher Education Area," says Hippler added. "The European University Networks initiative is a unique opportunity to enable universities across Europe to work together strategically and stimulate teaching, research and innovation on a mutual basis."
The three presidents write that universities are the core of research and innovation ecosystems worldwide, and they are particularly successful where the framework conditions strategically foster high-quality teaching and a strong research profile and stimulate active transfer to and from society.
Link to open letter
