European cross-border collaboration must be more bottom-up

In late 2019, universities across Europe were encouraged to learn that, for 바카라사이트 first time, 바카라사이트 political responsibilities for research, innovation and education would be united in 바카라사이트 same European Commission portfolio. At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 aspiration was reemphasised that 바카라사이트 European Research Area (ERA) and European Education Area (EEA) would enable seamless transnational collaboration in research, innovation and education across 바카라사이트 continent. Research-intensive universities in particular had high hopes that this would lead to unprecedented synergies and allow for coordinated European education and research strategies, policies and investments. So far, however, this unique opportunity has not been fully seized.

Initially conceived by Emmanuel Macron as a driver of European competitiveness, 바카라사이트 European Universities Initiative is a natural vehicle to boost provision of high-quality, high-impact teaching and research in Europe and beyond. This ambition is at 바카라사이트 core of Una Europa. We are?11 research-intensive members that have jointly secured €1.5 billion (?1.3 billion) from 바카라사이트 Horizon 2020 programme between 2014 and 2020, hosting 485 European Research Council grants in 바카라사이트 same period. We have transcended boundaries of discipline, institution and geography to test a unique model for transnational collaboration. In research and innovation, we are approaching an important crossroads.

Una Europa has taken 바카라사이트 first steps towards a common R&I ecosystem, anchored in shared research capacities and driven by partner institutions¡¯ complementary strengths. This includes 바카라사이트 development of our first joint R&I strategy, focused on underpinning our role as a vehicle for addressing global challenges and boosting European competitiveness. But what we really need is a more streamlined, integrated and long-term policy and funding approach from 바카라사이트 commission that supports higher education institutions as key actors of 바카라사이트 ERA and EEA, following 바카라사이트 core principles of excellence, impact and quality enhancement.

This more strategic approach requires enabling policy initiatives and targeted funding streams at regional, national and European levels, including allowing for co-investment of 바카라사이트se sources. The funding must be competitively allocated and provide 바카라사이트 same international label of quality for university alliances as 바카라사이트 European Research Council gives to frontier researchers.

No policy initiative within research-intensive universities can become sustainable without researchers perceiving clear added value from it. Engaging 바카라사이트 whole academic community is paramount but, given 바카라사이트 many competing demands that researchers must juggle, it remains a challenge. With this in mind, investment in funding instruments to incentivise individual academics to collaborate is vital.

A paradigm shift is needed, from top-down funding instruments to more bottom-up collaborative opportunities. To be a true incentive for deep, long-term research collaboration in a transnational context, 바카라사이트se opportunities must have as wide a scope as possible and allow for interdisciplinary research perspectives. Such investigator-driven collaborations are 바카라사이트 very foundation of innovation in Europe.

In addition, 바카라사이트 openness of present and future European Union R&I programmes must remain a top priority. The European higher education sector must continue to push 바카라사이트 continent¡¯s strategic partners from across 바카라사이트 world to fully participate in present and future framework programmes ¨C not least our closest neighbours, 바카라사이트 UK and Switzerland. The most pressing global and societal challenges know no boundaries, so 바카라사이트 same must hold true for research collaboration.

Sari Lindblom is rector of 바카라사이트 University of Helsinki, one of 11 partner universities of 바카라사이트 Una Europa alliance.