League of European Research Universities (LERU)

LERU's first newsletter of 2025 is out! Read more about: 📬 Our open letter to the Presidents of the EU institutions, which has already more than 215 signatures - The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities. 🎓 European Higher Education news. We didn't only publish statements on the Union of Skills and the European Degree, but are also devoting a LERU Talks episode to the latter. Join us online, tomorrow at 13:30 (CEST): https://lnkd.in/etqK5P4y 🧑💼 Changes in LERU (members) governance. Prof. Michael Schaepman (University of Zurich) is the newest LERU Board Member, there are new Chairs for three Policy Groups, and Frédérique Berrod and Matthias H. Tschöp were elected as new Rectors of Université de Strasbourg and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München respectively. ✍ Views by our Secretary-General Kurt Deketelaere on EU R&I&E policy. Listen to his podcast on FP10 or read his opinion pieces on the Competitiveness Compass and on the endorsement of the Warsaw Declaration by the Council of the European Union and the adoption of the Horizon Europe & FP10 report by the European Parliament. 📆 Recaps of our latest meetings and events. 🗂️ A joint statement on European competitiveness, our new blog on public engagement, and seminar recommendations to strengthen doctoral supervision. 👉 https://lnkd.in/eSnwsxVW

Read LERU Secretary-General Prof. Kurt Deketelaere' s reaction in Science|Business on (and a further explanation of that reaction) the joint statement of the European Research Council (ERC) and the EIC - European Innovation Council, in which they call for an increase in their respective budgets amid persisting concerns over post-2027 R&I funding. He sees this statement as a confirmation of what is and what is needed, namely an independent ERC and EIC, now and in the future, with both having a increased and ringfenced budget. It's a clear confirmation, again, of what is already known and what LERU defends. At the same time it's a warning for those who have potentially other plans with the EIC and ERC. 💬 "If they are granted ringfenced budgets, why would they not become, once and for all, autonomous self-standing entities outside the FP or, imagine, a European Competitiveness Fund (ECF)? The fact that this is not happening suggests that their 'supervising' powers still want to have a certain control, be it via a FP or via an ECF. And from what we have learned until now about the ECF, it's clear that in an ECF approach they will probably not be autonomous and will not have a ringfenced budget.” 💬 “Reading all those documents of the European Commission over the past weeks and months, specifically the Competitiveness Compass communication, it is all about top down, applied sciences and innovation, EU priorities, etc. This does not sound like the key characteristics of the EIC and ERC: bottom up, excellence driven, independence." Prof. Deketelaere also criticised the European Commission’s lack of transparency over its plans and its reluctance to speak with stakeholders. 💬 “My feeling is that Ursula von der Leyen already decided on day 1 of her second term that there will be no self standing FP10, that they are presently already preparing the integration of R&I funding in a still to be created ECF and that they want to be ready with that before anything is announced. Reason for their silence, reason for their lack of transparency, reason for their reluctancy to speak with stakeholders. Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva is doing what she can, question is how much influence she has and can change the ideas of the inner circle of President von der Leyen." Prof. Deketelaere also mentioned legal proceedings in case of violation of art 182 of the Treaty. He says that he wonders how the EC will respect the Treaty in case of an absorption of R&I in an ECF and that he will keep a close look on that. #FP10 #FrameworkProgramme #ECF #CompetitivenessFund Maria Leptin 🗞️ Read the article in Science Business: https://lnkd.in/dfbREnzA

🤝 LERU welcomes and supports the European University Association's paper on ‘A research, education and innovation partnership for Europe’s competitiveness’.   In this paper, the EUA rightly states that research, innovation, education and skills are each complex policy areas in their own right, but nonetheless, their contribution to Europe’s competitiveness needs to be seen as a whole. Europe indeed needs to invest, and it needs to create better framework conditions that allow the actors in these fields to adapt, develop and grow. This requires a continuous dialogue, and universities are ready to fully take part in this. Also the LERU universities.    For this reason, LERU supports the EUA proposal to create a dialogue between those that form the basis of Europe’s knowledge and those that can create better framework conditions to develop and spread this knowledge base: a partnership for competitiveness built on co-creation and dialogue and with respect for the missions and goals of all.   💬 In the same spirit, Prof Kurt Deketelaere, Secretary-General LERU, called upon the EC’s leadership team to be transparent and to start asap a debate with the R&I community about the future development of EU R&I policy and funding.   Reason for his call is that it’s two weeks now since the 27 R&I ministers of the EU unanimously endorsed the Warsaw Declaration on the strategic role of the future EU R&I framework programme (FP), in which they call upon the EC to propose a self-standing FP10. Prof. Deketelaere: "Since the explicit endorsement, different actors have tried to downplay this 'self-standing FP' message by the 27 R&I ministers. They try to do that by focusing on the sentence that the EC in drafting its initial proposal for the future FP should build on the legacy of self-standing FP in close cooperation with the member states. It’s unclear to LERU how a sentence about 'the future FP', which should build on 'the legacy of self-standing FP', can imply a 'non-self-standing' FP, and make the absorbtion of EU R&I policy and funding in a still to be created European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) possible? This attempt to downplay the R&I ministers’ message also disregards the fact that the Warsaw Declaration mentions 10 times 'the future FP' or 'the next FP'. Can it be more explicit?" It is also clear that some actors only now fully realise the importance of the Declaration, however, the EC’s leadership team remain deafeningly silent on the future use of a FP for R&I, and the drafting of a proposal for a self-standing FP10. This attitude becomes unacceptable. It clearly indicates a fait accompli approach, avoiding consultation of all R&I stakeholders, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, and aiming at keeping the R&I community busy with a yes or no game regarding whether there will be a standalone FP10, instead of having an open and constructive discussion about the major modifications the R&I programme needs.

▶️ About the Warsaw Declaration … ✅ It’s two weeks now since the 27 R&I ministers of the EU unanimously endorsed the Warsaw Declaration on the strategic role of the future EU R&I framework programme (FP). ✅ With the Declaration the 27 R&I ministers call upon the EC to propose a self-standing 10th R&I FP for the period 2028-2034. ✅ Since the explicit endorsement, different actors have tried to downplay this “self-standing FP” message by the 27 R&I ministers. ✅ They try to do that by focusing on the sentence that the EC in drafting its initial proposal for the future FP should build on the legacy of self-standing FP in close cooperation with the member states. ✅ It’s unclear to me how a sentence about “the future FP”, which should build on “the legacy of self-standing FP”, can imply a “non-self-standing” FP 🤔, and make the absorbtion of EU R&I policy and funding in a still to be created European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) possible ? ✅ This attempt to downplay to R&I ministers’ message also disregards the fact that the Warsaw Declaration mentions 10 times “the future FP” or “the next FP”. Can it be more explicit ? ✅ The downplaying also disregards the explicit reference to Art 182 TFEU which states that the FP shall establish the S&T objectives to be achieved and fix the overall amount and the detailed rules for Union financial participation. ✅ It is clear that two weeks after its endorsement some actors only now fully realise the importance of the Warsaw Declaration. 🔴 Meanwhile the EC’s leadership team (president and executive vice-presidents) remain deafeningly silent on the future use of a FP for R&I, and the drafting of a proposal for a self-standing FP10. 🔴 After months of intransparency, this attitude becomes unacceptable. It clearly indicates a fait accompli approach, avoiding consultation of all R&I stakeholders, EP and Council. Some would say even disregard and contempt. 🔴 It aims at keeping the R&I community busy with a yes or no game, in stead of having an open and constructive discussion on a future FP10. ✅ A future FP10 of which the EP, Council and stakeholders all have said that it should not be business as usual : lessons must be drawn from the Horizon Europe experiences and major modifications should take place. The proposals for that are abundantly available. ✅ For all these reasons, LERU calls upon the EC’s leadership team to be transparent and to start asap a debate with the R&I community about the future development of EU R&I policy and funding. 🔴 Finally, if needed in due course, legal proceedings re Art 182 TFEU remain an option, and meanwhile it would be wise for MEPs to interpellate the EC through written questions about the role and application of Art 182 TFEU. League of European Research Universities (LERU)

LERU congratulates Frédérique Berrod with her election as new President of Université de Strasbourg!    She is a professor at Sciences Po Strasbourg since 2008, specialised in EU Law.   🤝 We’re looking forward to a continued excellent cooperation, and also want to thank Prof. Michel Deneken for all his great work as president and his support for LERU. 👉 https://lnkd.in/e2qiNuaf

🇪🇺 Almost 200 signatures for our open letter to the leaders of the EU institutions: https://lnkd.in/egVsMYzA Two weeks ago, LERU and The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities published an open letter in which we expressed our concerns to Roberta Metsola, António Costa, Donald Tusk, and Ursula von der Leyen about the future development of EU’s R&I policy in general, and the next framework programme for R&I (FP10) in particular. Already more than 160 Rectors, and several Rectors' Conferences and Networks have signed the letter, joining our call to the EU to ensure that FP10 builds on, and supports, the research excellence of Europe’s universities. While in the meantime support was given by the European Parliament and the Competitiveness Council for a self-standing, adequately funded FP10, we still call upon European university Rectors, Conferences and networks to sign the open letter and show their support: https://lnkd.in/etMUsxr9 🤝 This initiative is supported by CESAER, Coimbra Group, European University Association, German Rectors' Conference (HRK), German U15, ASSOCIATIE KU Leuven, Russell Group of Universities, swissuniversities, TU9 – German Universities of Technology, UNICA - Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe and YERUN - Young European Research Universities. Peter-Paul Verbeek, Joan Guàrdia Olmos, David Dreyer Lassen, Linda Doyle, Peter Mathieson, Kerstin Krieglstein, Audrey Leuba, Frauke Melchior, Sari Lindblom, Hester Bijl, Luc Sels, Hugh Brady, Erik Renström, Marina Brambilla, Nathalie DRACH-TEMAM, Camille GALAP, Frédérique Berrod, Joël Mesot, Michael Schaepman European Commission, Council of the European Union, Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union, European Research Council (ERC), Maria Leptin, Ekaterina Zaharieva, Research Matters Campaign #FP10 #CompetitivenessFund #MSCA #Poland25eu

🤝 LERU meets with Roxana Minzatu and Ekaterina Zaharieva. Yesterday, Dr Linda Doyle (LERU Chair and Provost Trinity College Dublin), Prof. Sari Lindblom (LERU BoD member and Rector University of Helsinki) and Prof. Kurt Deketelaere, (LERU Secretary-General) met with two members of the Ursula von der Leyen Commission to discuss their initiatives in the field of EU R&I&E policy.   With Executive Vice-President Mînzatu and her team, they discussed: 🔸 The Union of Skills 🔸 Choose Europe and other potential EU and national measures to support US researchers looking to come to Europe 🔸 The current situation of higher education and research in the United States   With Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva, and her members of cabinet, they talked about: 🔸 The next Framework Programme for R&I (FP10) 🔸 The next multiannual financial framework (MFF) 🔸 Horizon Europe 🔸 Simplification 🔸 The ERA Act LERU appreciates the time Ms Mînzatu and Ms Zaharieva took to talk about these issues and looks further to contribute to the discussions. Vanessa Debiais-Sainton, Dr. Alexandra Hild #FP10 #MFF #UnionofSkills #HorizonEurope #ERAact #ChooseEurope #Erasmusplus

Last week a delegation of LERU rectors and the rectors of the CE7 universities gathered at the University of Tartu for their annual meeting. They discussed: 🔸 Aspects of Estonian R&I&E policy, the recent informal Competitiveness Council, and the EU's Higher Education Package, with Kristina Kallas, Estonian Minister for Education and Research. 🔸 Artificial intelligence, with Prof. Meelis Kull, Head of the Estonian Centre of Excellence in AI at the University of Tartu, who also shared a fully AI-generated paper on the added value of LERU 👉 https://lnkd.in/eEdjrqhn. 🔸 Health data and competitiveness in Europe, with Prof. Jaak Vilo, Head of the Chair on Data Science at the University of Tartu. 🔸 The recent geopolitical developments and their potential and necessary impact on civilian, dual use and military research activities, with Prof. Jaak Aaviksoo, former Rector of the University of Tartu and Tallinn University of Technology and former Estonian Minister of Defence, Culture and Education, and Education and Research. 🔸 Recent R&I&E policy developments in the USA, EU, UK, China, Australia and India, with Prof. Kurt Deketelaere, Secretary-General of LERU.   Read a recap of the meeting: https://lnkd.in/eGbR7YSx   #CE7 #MFF #FP10 #EuropeanDegree #AI #healthdata #competitiveness   University of Belgrade, Eötvös Loránd University, University of Ljubljana, Charles University, University of Tartu, Uniwersytet Warszawski, University of Zagreb / Sveučilište u Zagrebu   Universiteit van Amsterdam, Universitat de Barcelona, University of Cambridge, Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen, Trinity College Dublin, The The University of Edinburgh, The University of Freiburg, Université de Genève, Universität Heidelberg, University of Helsinki, Universiteit Leiden, KU Leuven, Imperial College London, UCL, Lund University, Università degli Studi di Milano, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, University of Oxford, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Strasbourg, Universiteit Utrecht, ETH Zürich, University of Zurich

After a seminar at Charles University Prague earlier this year, doctoral education experts from LERU members universities and seven leading Central European Universities (CE7) expressed the following recommendations on how to enhance doctoral supervision:   1️⃣ Strengthen face-to-face engagement in doctoral supervision 2️⃣ Understand and address investment gaps in doctoral education  3️⃣ Develop holistic research assessment practices   Learn more 👉 https://lnkd.in/eXHPwA3c   #doctoralsupervision #doctoraleducation   University of Belgrade, Eötvös Loránd University, University of Ljubljana, Charles University, University of Tartu, Uniwersytet Warszawski, University of Zagreb / Sveučilište u Zagrebu Universiteit van Amsterdam, Universitat de Barcelona, University of Cambridge, University of Copenhagen (Københavns Universitet), Trinity College Dublin, The University of Edinburgh, The University of Freiburg, Université de Genève, Universität Heidelberg, University of Helsinki, Universiteit Leiden, KU Leuven, Imperial College London, UCL, Lund University, Università degli Studi di Milano, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, University of Oxford, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Strasbourg, Universiteit Utrecht, ETH Zürich, University of Zurich

✍ The Day After... Read LERU Secretary-General Prof. Kurt Deketelaere's opinion piece, reflecting on the support that was given yesterday by the European Parliament and the Competitiveness Council for a self-standing, adequately funded 2028–2034 Framework Programme for R&I (FP10). 🔸 The endorsement of the Warsaw Declaration by the Council and the adoption of the Horizon Europe & FP10 report by the Parliament dealt a major blow to the European Commission’s leadership, who have remained deafeningly silent on FP10 until now. 🔸 So far, only one commissioner, Ms Ekaterina Zaharieva, has openly spoken about FP10 and is committed to drafting it, but she and her administration have been sidelined in key discussions on competitiveness. 🔸 Collaboration with the EP and the Competitiveness Council has been, and remains, essential. Thanks to the strong leadership of MEP Christian Ehler and the efforts of the Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union, we achieved exactly what was needed yesterday: a clear stakeholder-EP-Council alliance pushing for a standalone FP10, in direct opposition to the EC’s current stance. 🔸 Curious to see how the EC will react: will they choose to ignore yesterday’s developments and proceed with absorbing R&I policy and funding into the future European Competitiveness Fund? Or will they acknowledge yesterday’s outcome and enter into consultations with the EP, Member States, and stakeholder organisations? 👉 https://lnkd.in/eTxAHx6d Ursula von der Leyen, Stéphane Séjourné, Roberta Metsola Peter-Paul Verbeek, Joan Guàrdia Olmos, David Dreyer Lassen, Linda Doyle, Peter Mathieson, Kerstin Krieglstein, Audrey Leuba, Frauke Melchior, Sari Lindblom, Hester Bijl, Luc Sels, Hugh Brady, Erik Renström, Marina Brambilla, Nathalie DRACH-TEMAM, Camille GALAP, Michel Deneken, Joël Mesot, Michael Schaepman #FP10 #EUcompetitiveness #PolishPresidency #Poland25EU #CompetitivenessFund #MFF