2024-2025: Looking Ahead Towards Coimbra Group’s 40th Anniversary
30 September 2024
Coimbra Group Executive Board
In mid-September, members of the Executive Board (EB) gathered in Brussels, where the European Commission had invited about 300 R&I actors to debate the future of the European Research Area. This conference was also the opportunity to discuss FP10 and celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the launch of EU’s first framework programme dedicated to Research and Innovation. A success story that is closely tied chronologically to that of the Coimbra Group (CG), which was founded one year after.
This means that for CG and its members 2024-2025 promises to be a cheerful academic year marked by the celebration of four decades of cooperation and collective advocacy. But beyond the necessary retrospective we have been thinking mainly about this anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on where CG is heading next. We are proud to present below the three sets of priorities that we will focus on in the next twelve months. These priorities result from discussions held with the Rectors’ Advisory Group and at the 2024 General Assembly.
- Continue playing the role of a scientific theme-setter and articulating a solid vision based on our values
–Civic and societal engagement and shared values: This has been and remains a central priority in CG’s strategy and action plan. We will continue driving value-based discussions on these questions, and we will strive to promote a leading and distinctive voice, articulating CG’s specific identity and strengths. An important highlight will be the 40th Anniversary Annual Conference to be celebrated at the University of Bologna, 10-13 June 2025, centred around our shared values.
–Innovation and the implications of the Draghi Report: The Draghi Report has already impacted EU policy significantly, as reflected for instance in the mission letters presented by Ursula von der Leyen to the Commissioners-designate. We must reflect on the strategies and actions of CG Universities in the field of innovation and how the CG network can harness its platform and influence to contribute to advocate for policy changes.
–Open Science and Open Research Information: In line with the joint EB-RAG statement adopted earlier in February 2024, we aim to remain at the forefront of the European movement towards an inclusive and open science. We wish to fully harness CG’s catalyst role – both at institutional and at systemic level – for making this agenda progress.
–Artificial Intelligence (AI): CG was among the first European networks to take a thorough look at the impact of AI on Universities with a positive stance on the benefits of AI for Universities. Since then, the exchange of experiences and the consolidation of knowledge within the different CG Working Groups has never stopped and we are seeing new synergies arise. This is why this year our High-Level Policy Seminar will focus on the potential and promise of AI as well as its challenges for academic life. This event will take place at the University of Iasi, 21-22 November 2024 and is geared towards the Rectors and Vice-Rectors of the CG Universities.
–Climate Change: To tackle climate change through research, education and policy engagement is now more urgent than ever. We are delighted to invite all CG Rectors to come together for an inaugural two-day CG Climate Symposium that will be hosted by Durham University, 24-26 March 2025, as part of the CG’s 40th anniversary celebrations. With this event, we are committed to deliver a long-lasting legacy and publish a Durham Declaration, which, we hope, will shape both the CG’s and the wider sector’s response to climate change.
- Help shape and pioneer EU policies that are relevant for CG members:
The 2024-2025 academic year has started with the designation of a new College of European Commissioners which political agenda is largely inspired by the Draghi Report. The Letta Report earlier this year created a momentum for Education, Research and Innovation with the recommendation of the Fifth Freedom. It is a unique opportunity for CG Universities to further intensify the network’s presence and influence relevant European policy-making processes and initiatives, as well as its contribution to the development of the following programmes:
–Next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10) and Erasmus+ programme, in relation to the next EU Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF)
–Dual-use research, Research Security, Science Diplomacy and International cooperation
–Research Careers and Research Assessment
–New European Research Area Policy Agenda (ERA)
–European Education Area and progress towards a European Degree
–European Strategy for Universities
–European Universities Initiative
–Impact of Brexit on academic and scientific cooperation with the UK and further efforts on reintegrating Switzerland into Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe.
- Drive CG’s internal development through new initiatives:
– In addition to the anniversary celebrations, 2025 should be a milestone year for all of us as a community, especially because the General Assembly will be held in June 2025 (Bologna) to vote on a possible expansion of the CG membership. The EB and RAG are now getting close to entering the last preparation phase of this process.
– The EB will also conclude the discussions on CG’s future. These discussions were initiated through an open forum with all CG members at the General Assembly in Cologne in June 2023; and then pursued at the General Assembly held in Turku in June 2024.
As we conclude this editorial, we have special thoughts for two colleagues at the Brussels Office who have been struggling with sickness. We wish them well and all the best for a swift recovery. We also warmly welcome the newly hired colleagues and wish them an enjoyable experience with us.
To the CG community, and to all our readers, take advantage of the exciting calendar of CG’s meetings, events and activities already scheduled for the next months, and we very much look forward to celebrating together a fabulous journey of four decades and more to come, despite the trying times that Europe and the world are facing.