CESAER has been appointed to the European Commission’s STEAM Executive Panel, where it will be represented by Petri Suomala, Vice President for Education and International Partnerships at Aalto University and Co-Chair of the CESAER Task Force European Higher Education. CESAER’s Board of Directors has appointed Petri as CESAER Envoy for this role until 31 December 2027.

The first CESAER Leadership Programme brought together 27 emerging and mid-career leaders from across our network for five days of leadership development, peer exchange and European perspectives in Glasgow.

Universities are not being asked to abandon open science, but they do need to engage more openly with the security and dual-use implications of their research, writes Jan S. Hesthaven, President of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

Geert Dewulf, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Engineering and Physical Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast, argues that Europe needs universities that connect excellence, innovation and place.

CESAER joined the launch of the 2026 call for expressions of interest for the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre Collaborative Doctoral Partnerships. Member universities are encouraged to explore the opportunity, with an online information session taking place on 1 July and applications open until 25 September 2026.

CESAER and partners today publish a joint statement calling on European leaders negotiating the next Horizon Europe to recognise and reinforce the MSCA as Europe’s proven programme for research careers.

Speaking at the International Science & Policy Symposium 2026 in Hannover, CESAER Secretary General Mattias Björnmalm highlighted how universities can help strengthen Europe’s security and resilience while preserving the conditions that make world-class research, education and innovation possible.

Speaking at the conference 'From Widening to Transformation: European Universities as Engines of Inclusion and Innovation' in Brussels on 17–18 June, CESAER Secretary General Mattias Björnmalm highlighted the need to move beyond participation metrics and focus on lasting institutional transformation, stronger research and innovation capabilities, and a more integrated European Research Area.

On 18 June, CESAER Secretary General Mattias Björnmalm joined fellow European association leaders for an exchange with Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva on the next EU budget, FP10, the European Competitiveness Fund, the ERA Act and strengthening Europe's long-term competitiveness through research and innovation.

CESAER today published a new position proposing seven design principles for the long-term monitoring of European University Alliances and illustrating their application to competitiveness.