Contributing to the global dialogue on sustainable research for sustainable communities
24 October 2025
From 21-23 October, the Coimbra Group actively contributed to the European Regional Meeting of the Global Research Council (GRC), held in Belgrade and co-hosted by Serbia and Hungary, with the support of Science Europe. Representing our network, Danny Donoghue, member of the Executive Board, joined a high-level panel alongside leaders from the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP), the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal), and the Hungarian Research Network (HUN-REN). The session will focus on the key elements, obstacles and opportunities of creating a sustainable research environment that may efficiently serve sustainable communities.
Danny Donoghue presented the Coimbra Group’s Durham Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainability, endorsed by 39 Coimbra Group Rectors. His intervention notably highlighted: the urgent need for increased funding in sustainability research; the global scale and societal relevance of the challenges addressed; and the critical role of cross- and trans-disciplinary collaboration, urging funders to evolve their approaches.
The meeting also tackled key issues shaping the research ecosystem, including research careers, artificial intelligence, and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), all central to Coimbra Group member universities.
GRC Regional Meetings are convened across the globe and contribute to shaping the agenda for the following GRC Annual Meeting. The discussions held in Belgrade will inform the development of a Statement of Principles to be adopted by all regions during the Annual Meeting in May 2026 in Bangkok.
