A year of action and advocacy
01 October 2025
Ludovic Thilly, Coimbra Group Executive Board Chair
Beatrix Busse, Coimbra Group Executive Board Vice-Chair
As the new academic year is about to begin, the Coimbra Group is at a crossroads, shaped both by major European policy developments and the continued evolution of our network. Two realities indeed define this moment: a redefined framework for the future EU long-term budget and the extraordinary energy and commitment within the Coimbra Group itself. Together, they make this year both pivotal and full of opportunity.
At the European level, the policy agenda will directly influence our work. The European Commission’s proposals for the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the draft regulations for the future Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe programmes, and the new European Competitiveness Fund, are already being debated in the Council and will soon move to the European Parliament. These negotiations will set the framework in which our universities will be operating in the next decade. The Coimbra Group is committed to continuing to be a proactive and constructive voice in these discussions.
For our network, 2025-2026 will be a year of strategic engagement and intense advocacy. It will also mark the closing of a memorable anniversary year. Our 40th anniversary has been not only a celebration of our shared history, but also a chance to reflect critically on the future. The themes chosen, climate action and sustainability, city-university cooperation, artificial intelligence, and (soon to be addressed) campus democracy, have already sparked meaningful dialogue and renewed our commitment to the values that unite us.
We were also delighted to welcome three new members, the Universities of Leeds, Newcastle and Wrocław. They will further enrich the diversity and reach of our network. We look forward to fully integrating them into our family and collective work.
Executive Board priorities for 2025–2026
Our work this year will continue to advancing three strategic pillars, driven by concrete actions and inclusive engagement.
1. Keeping thought leadership and shared values at the core
The Coimbra Group will maintain its role as a distinct voice championing civic engagement, shared values, and societal responsibility, with renewed emphasis on implementation and member support. Highlights of this year include:
- Campus Democracy & Civic Engagement: This November, we will gather in Brussels for a high-level seminar on “Reinventing Campus Democracy: Bridging Divides and Advancing Solutions”, jointly organised with Utrecht University and supported by the European Students’ Union (ESU). This event will reaffirm universities as spaces where democratic culture is lived, nurtured and renewed. It will explore how we can foster dialogue, navigate disagreement, and reinforce democratic principles on campus. The planned Memorandum of Understanding with the ESU, together with our forthcoming update of the Poitiers Declaration on University-City Cooperation, following the excellent public conference at the CG Annual Meeting in Bologna in June, show our continued determination to work hand-in-hand with students and institutional partners to uphold and advance our shared values.
- Societal Innovation: Our next Annual Conference, hosted by the University of Granada (16–19 June 2025) under the theme “Transforming the Local and Social Environment through Research and Innovation”, will highlight how Coimbra Group universities act as drivers of change in their local and regional environments. This is not an abstract debate: across the Coimbra Group, our members are already pioneering impactful models that link research and innovation to societal needs. The Granada discussions will help us exchange best practices, amplify impact, and strengthen the case for universities as transformative agents in their regional knowledge ecosystems, also in connection with our engagement with the European Research Area (ERA).
- Open Science: The Coimbra Group has been at the forefront of the open science agenda. This year, we will consolidate our leadership, particularly through contributions to the consolidation and roll-out of the Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information.
- Artificial Intelligence: Our work on AI in higher education will expand, including active participation in the new ERA action on the responsible use of AI in research launching in Copenhagen this November. At the same time, we will continue to advocate for ethical, human-centred AI and provide support to members as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of AI integration.
- Climate Action: Building on the roadmap adopted before the summer, we will implement the Durham Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainability. A dedicated task group will guide these efforts, with new actions already underway across CG Working Groups and with external partners, including UNEP and the European Commission.
These initiatives reflect areas where the Coimbra Group adds a unique value. It will shape science-based agendas, inluence policy, and support concrete action within our universities.
2. Policy shaping and strategic advocacy
We will continue to engaging proactively with EU institutions to help shape and pioneer policies that matter most to our members. The coming year will be decisive in influencing the design of ‘FP10‘, the next Erasmus+ programme, and their links with the new European Competitiveness Fund, as well as their respective place within the future MFF.
The Coimbra Group also intends to play an active role in advancing the Fifth Freedom and in the elaboration of the Commission’s proposal for an ERA Act, ensuring that the voices of our member universities are heard at every stage.
Our advocacy will remain strong on the European Education Area, including the European Degree, and the European Universities Initiative. At the same time , we shall deepen our engagement on crucial issues such as dual-use research, research security, science diplomacy, research careers, and research assessment reform.
Furthermore, we will continue to pushing strongly for the restoration of full academic and scientific cooperation with the United Kingdom and Switzerland, an objective that remains vital for Europe’s competitiveness and cohesion.
3. Strengthening the Coimbra Group as a catalyst for change and collaboration
Despite the challenges facing Europe and the wider world, we remain confident in the unique ability of Coimbra Group universities to inspire, transform, and lead. Building on the strength and complementarity of our 42 members, we will continue to take a critical stance and demonstrate our impact.
We are committed to ensuring that all member universities can participate meaningfully in Coimbra Group activities. Our thematic and sectoral Working Groups will remain central in this effort, while we continue to strengthen the sense of community that defines our network.
As we conclude our 40th anniversary celebrations and enter a new decade of action for the network, we carry forward the spirit of shared values, academic collaboration, societal engagement and friendship that has shaped the Coimbra Group since its foundation.
We warmly encourage all members to engage actively in the rich calendar of Coimbra Group events and activities. These gatherings are not only moments of collaboration and learning but also opportunities to deepen the bonds that make our network both distinctive and strong.