Time to align, act and accelerate

CESAER, the strong and united voice of universities of science and technology in Europe, welcomes the bold and forward-thinking recommendations outlined in the report ‘Align, Act, Accelerate – Research, Technology and Innovation to Boost European Competitiveness’ published today by the European Commission high-level expert group chaired by Manuel Heitor.

• The report is available for download and dissemination here (PDF).

Details for the launch event and publication of the Heitor group’s report are available here.

The report aligns strongly with key priorities that CESAER and its Members have championed, as expressed in recent position papers including on competitiveness, towards FP10, EU missions, synergies, MSCA, research careers, dual-use, and alliances among others.

Orla Feely, President of CESAER and President of University College Dublin, lauded the report for echoing urgent calls made in recent reports by Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi, and also in Ursula von der Leyen’s strategic agenda for 2024-2029, Europe’s Choice.

"This report underscores two overarching messages: the need for an ambitious, transformative approach to European research and innovation, and the immense urgency to act. We look forward to a swift response from EU member states and the Council of the EU, working closely with the European Parliament and the European Commission to implement the report’s recommendations. Time is of the essence, and some key measures must be in place by 2025."

Tim Bedford, Vice President of CESAER and Associate Principal of the University of Strathclyde, welcomed the report’s recommendation to establish an experimental unit for fast-tracking transformative technologies, including through experimenting with ‘ARPA’-style mechanisms.

"Experimentation to advance science and accelerate the development of new technologies is crucial for enhancing Europe’s competitiveness including by leveraging the strengths of its leading universities of science and technology. These institutions stand at the forefront of talent development and the translation of scientific excellence into technological advancement. The European Industrial and Technological Competitiveness Council proposed by the Heitor group echoes CESAER’s previous proposal for a European Competitiveness Research Council (ECRC), focusing on accelerating and de-risking new technologies to maintain global competitiveness. This is a much-welcomed development."

Jennifer Herek, Vice President of CESAER and Dean at the University of Twente, emphasised the importance of reinforcing what already works at the European level, such as the European Research Council (ERC), the European Innovation Council (EIC), and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).

"We strongly support the report’s call for massively strengthening existing EU instruments that have already proven their value. The proposal to make Europe a magnet for research talent through the ‘Choose Europe’ initiative is particularly welcome, as better conditions and fewer barriers are crucial for Europe to remain an attractive destination for global scientific talent."

Mattias Björnmalm, Secretary General of CESAER, highlighted the urgency of action:

"The Heitor group’s report provides a clear blueprint for Europe’s path forward in science and technology. The call to fund all excellent proposals through combined sources at EU and national levels, including by leveraging the Seal of Excellence approach, is warmly welcomed. The call to monitor and ensure progress on a country-by-country basis towards funding all excellent proposals and towards achieving the 3% GDP target, sets a much-needed accountability framework. Involving high-level political leaders in this accountability framework, including finance ministers through ECOFIN and prime ministers via the European Council, is a vital step to ensure swift implementation. Nice words must now be followed by concrete and substantial action. We cannot afford to wait. The time to act is now, and some of these critical recommendations need to be in place by 2025"

For more information and press enquiries, please contact Justine Moynat (Information & Communication Officer) at justine.moynat@cesaer.org

The image accompanying this article was generated with an AI.