Coimbra Group launches the Poitiers-Granada Declaration to strengthen collaboration between Universities and Cities across Europe
18 June 2026
Granada, 19 June 2026
The Coimbra Group today officially launched the Poitiers-Granada Declaration on the Collaboration between Universities and Cities, reaffirming and strengthening the commitment of Europe’s leading historic universities to work hand in hand with their local communities for the wellbeing of our societies.
The Declaration was formally launched at the University of Granada during the closing session of the Coimbra Group Annual Conference and General Assembly 2026, held under the theme “Transforming the Local and Social Environment through Research and Innovation.”
The Declaration was signed by Ludovic Thilly, Chair of the Coimbra Group Executive Board; Pedro Mercado, Rector of the University of Granada; Marifrán Carazo, Mayor of Granada; and Francisco Rodríguez, President of the Granada Provincial Council.
The signature followed a short intervention by Arno Schrooyen, Vice-President of the European Students’ Union, who shared the students’ perspective on University-City cooperation and civic engagement.
A shared commitment to societal impact
Commenting on the launch of the Declaration, Ludovic Thilly, Chair of the Coimbra Group Executive Board, said:
“Universities do not exist in isolation. They are deeply embedded in the communities they serve and have a responsibility to contribute actively to their social, cultural, economic and environmental development. The Poitiers-Granada Declaration reflects ten years of learning and collaboration, while setting an ambitious framework for the decade ahead. It recognises that the most pressing challenges of our time can only be addressed through strong partnerships between universities, cities and the wider civic ecosystems in which they are rooted.”
Building on a decade of collaboration
The Poitiers-Granada Declaration builds upon the original Poitiers Declaration on the Collaboration between Coimbra Group Universities and Municipalities, adopted in June 2016 during the Coimbra Group Annual Conference hosted by the University of Poitiers.
Over the past decade, the original Declaration has become a recognised framework for structured collaboration between universities and their local socio-economic environments. It has been signed byRectors and Mayors across 21 European countries and was highlighted by the European Commission in its 2020 publication Towards a 2030 Vision on the Future of Universities in Europe as an inspiring example of how universities can formalise their role within local research and innovation ecosystems.
Since 2016, cooperation between universities and cities has expanded considerably in scope and ambition. Alongside education, research and innovation, partnerships increasingly address challenges such as sustainability and climate action, democratic participation, digital transformation, equal opportunities, inclusion, social cohesion and territorial development.
Recognising these developments, the Coimbra Group initiated a revision process in 2025, led by its Executive Board and Rectors’ Advisory Group and carried out in close consultation with the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of its twelve Working Groups.
A renewed vision for Universities and Cities
The Poitiers-Granada Declaration reaffirms the central role that universities and cities play in each other’s development while proposing an updated and more inclusive framework for collaboration.
Reflecting the diversity of contexts across the Coimbra Group, the Declaration adopts a broader understanding of “Cities”, defining them as the wider human, civic and social ecosystems in which universities are rooted and operate, irrespective of administrative boundaries.
The Declaration is intended to serve as an inspirational and flexible framework, encouraging structured engagement while respecting local realities and priorities. It focuses on future commitments and collective progress rather than performance measurement, offering guidance across a broad range of cooperation themes relevant to both universities and civic partners.
Particular attention has been given to ensuring complementarity with the Durham Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainability, adopted in March 2025 and signed by the Rectors of all 42 Coimbra Group member universities.
An open process
The launch of the Poitiers-Granada Declaration marks the beginning of a new phase of collaboration across the Coimbra Group network. The signature process will remain open after the Annual Conference, and additional signatories from Coimbra Group universities and their respective Cities will be announced in due course.
Through this renewed commitment, the Coimbra Group seeks to further strengthen the contribution of universities to inclusive, innovative and sustainable local development across Europe.