The Commission is gathering input for a global approach to R&I. EUA highlights the role of universities for an open and international yet independent Europe.
The European Commission (EC) has started updating its approach to international cooperation in research and innovation (R&I) in order to replace the current rules, which still stem from 2012. An EC Communication on the ‘EU’s new global approach to research, innovation, education and young people’ is scheduled for April 2021 and set within the context of the EC’s strategic priorities for economic recovery after the COVID-19 crisis and making Europe stronger in the world. Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, stated: “We need our international partners, but this time we need really to be sure that values and principles are not only simple words. We have to ensure our values and our interests are protected. We must seek reciprocity and a level playing field.” The Communication is intended to give direction for the EU’s international academic cooperation in the context of the new R&I framework programme, Horizon Europe and the new Erasmus+ Programme 2021-2027 and for association negotiations to these programmes with third countries.
The first step in the process towards this EC Communication is a public consultation on a respective roadmap, which will be open for feedback until 9 April 2021. The roadmap recognises the impact of the COVID-19 crisis as well as geopolitical changes as drivers for refocussing Europe’s strategy for international cooperation in R&I. It acknowledges that Europe’s prosperity and the well-being of its citizens depend on the capacity to develop and implement sustainable solutions to global environmental, social and economic challenges. Such capacity requires joint efforts in R&I, integrating the best scientific and entrepreneurial talents. In addition, the challenges may offer opportunities to strengthen partnerships with new partners near and far, like the Western Balkans or Africa.
The new strategy outlined in the Communication shall be delivered through programme and policy interventions coordinated between Member States and the Union. While the current strategy from 2012 fosters a general open cooperation with partners anywhere in the world, the new strategy will provide the opportunity for more focus. It shall serve to rebalance the EU’s R&I cooperation approach and adapt it to recent geopolitical changes in R&I and the promotion of European interests including strategic autonomy and greater reciprocity. It shall reflect the EC’s green, digital and health related priorities, and use the EU’s political influence and financial capacities to foster cooperation delivering solutions within these priorities. In addition, it shall enhance complementarity with international cooperation in education and youth to support the attainment of the Union’s overall objectives. The strategy may also give indications on how to agree on fair and open global principles for cooperation with relatively closed countries such as China. The new strategy does not touch upon cooperation with associated countries specifically.
Stakeholder organisations are currently presenting their inputs and positions. The European University Association (EUA) published a respective policy paper on 16 March 2021. EUA welcomes the preparation of the Communication, which will speak broadly to the spectrum of universities’ missions. In addition, EUA seeks to ensure that academic cooperation forms an integral part of the concept of open strategic autonomy of the EU. However, EUA identified three key challenges for the EU’s international engagement, the European Research Area (ERA), the European Education Area (EEA), the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and Europe’s universities in general. (1) How can the EU strengthen its own R&I capacity and become more independent, while engaging in international cooperation to enhance knowledge? (2) How can the EU and its universities strive for openness and free flow of knowledge, while addressing concerns over security? (3) How can the EU achieve political goals without interfering with the principles of institutional autonomy and academic freedom? The EUA policy paper therefore advises the EC to enhance responsible and reciprocal openness and international collaboration along three lines of action: Engaging with the world through common goals, programmes, funding and Open Science; empowering Europe’s R&I and education to be effective in the global scene by strengthening the ERA and EHEA through competitive policies; and bracing for risks to build resilience by developing systematic risk assessment measures. The authors believe that this will help to foster a strong and more independent EU that is at the same time open, international and cooperative. Europe’s universities can play a strong role in these developments.
As a next step, the EC will take into account the feedback received in response to the consultation on the roadmap for further development and fine-tuning of the Communication. It will also summarise all input received in a synopsis report, and explain how the different inputs will be taken into account. All feedback will also be published on the respective EC webpage.