EUA Research Policy
Dr John H Smith
Deputy Secretary-General
European University Association
UNICA
7FP: The Role of the Universities
University of Vienna, Austria
November 29 & 30, 2007
Overview of Presentation
The European University Association (EUA) in Brussels:
Independent stakeholder for Europe’s Universities
Current European Research Policy Framework
How EUA approaches key European Policy debates and
provides input: 6 selected issues
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Doctoral Programme reform / Research Careers
FP7 support rates and cost models
Dialogue with European Research Council
University / Business collaboration and knowledge transfer
Open Access and scientific publishing
‘Green Paper’ on the future of the European Research Area
Maximizing European, National and Regional Research
Opportunities
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The European University Association (EUA) in Brussels:
Independent Stakeholder for Europe’s Universities
Created in 2001 (as a result of the merger of the Confederation of
European University Rectors, CRE, and the European Union
University Rectors Association)
Non-governmental Membership-based Organisation
780 Universities in 46 countries (individual members), 34 National
Rectors’ Conferences (collective members) and university
networks (affiliate members)
Policy Focus: ERA and EHEA
Support to Members: projects, workshops, conferences, webbased newsletters, targeted information and policy
statements/positions
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Current European Research Policy Framework
7th Research Framework Programme (with longer duration 7
years, major innovations – European Research Council: eligible
research costs contract model; further coordination between
national and European research programmes through new
mechanisms such as ERA-NET and Regions of Knowledge)
European Structural and Social Funds – new emphasis on Lisbon
Objectives in Research and Innovation
European Researchers’ Charter and Code of Conduct/Research
Careers and Mobility / Researcher’s Passport
European Institute of Technology
Communication on Modernisation Agenda for Universities
Communication on Improving Knowledge Transfer between
Research Institutions and Industry
‘Green Paper’ on Future of the European Research Area:
Consultation and Follow-Up
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The Changing Context
The EU Lisbon agenda & a refocused strategy around
research & innovation
The importance of universities in building a knowledge
society in Europe
Globalisation, growing competition with an ever more
global market for education and research
More differentiation & institutional profiling
 Europe needs “strong institutions that are diverse,
adequately funded, autonomous and accountable”
(London Communiqué, May 2007)
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EUA Research Policy – How it Evolves
EUA Board
and Council
EUA Research
Policy Working
Group
EUA Projects
EUA Conferences /
Workshops
Empirical evidence and input
From EUA University
Membership and University
networks
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AD HOC
Subgroups on FP7 (2005/6)
-ERC and Fundamental Research
-Marie Curie and Mobility Schemes
-Rules of participation
EUA involvement in external
Expert groups
Key Issue I
EUA Work on Doctoral Programme Reform:
Linking the Bologna and Lisbon Objectives
Starting point: Doctoral research is the first formative stage of a
research career (both problems and opportunities have to be
addressed here)
End Point: Employability – careers in both academic and nonacademic sectors and intersectorial mobility
Meeting Lisbon Objectives: fulfilling the need for more highly
skilled professionals
Fostering “Joined-up” Government thinking (across the European
Institutions, national ministries, research councils etc) on doctoral
programme financing and career development
EUA projects on Doctoral Programmes and Doctoral Careers
EUA provides independent input to the Intergovernmental Bologna
Process “3rd Cycle” (London Communique, May 2007)
EUA publishes results of its 3rd cycle activities (September 2007)
‘Doctoral Programmes in Europe’s Universities: Achievements and
Challenges
2008 Launching of EUA Council for Doctoral Education
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Key Issue II
EUA Position on FP7 Support Rates and Cost
Models
Three Main Issues
Universities that opted for the FP6 “Additional Costs” model held
serious concerns that the level of research cost reimbursement
under FP7 eligible costs model would not reach that achieved
under FP6
FP7 should be a transition period to allow universities to develop
further their accounting systems to be able to operate fully within
the proposed eligible research costs model
The most critical issue was the level of « flat rate » for indirect
research costs reimbursement in the case of the many universities
that where not yet able to identify fully their indirect costs. EC
had proposed a 20% flat rate
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Key Issue II (Continued)
EUA Proposal
The flat rate payment (on research and development activities for
public bodies and higher education institutions) for indirect eligible
research costs should be fixed at 60% of total direct eligible costs
Such a fixed flat rate would provide an incentive to universities to
develop their accounting systems to be able to operate on full
eligible cost principles by the end of FP7
EUA mounted a strategic campaign to present its case for 60% to
the European Commission and European Parliament which met
with success
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Key Issue III
European Research Council
EUA contributed as an strong advocate of the need for a European
Research Council from its 2003 position paper onwards
EUA Ad Hoc Working Group on the ERC (comprised of Rectors and
Vice-Rectors for Research) provided input to the European
Commission at the FP7 development phase on ERC (2005/6)
EUA invited by the ERC Identification Committee to nominate
prospective candidates for the membership of the ERC Scientific
Council
Dialogue established by the EUA Research Policy Working Group
with ERC Scientific Council providing viewpoints / feedback on
ERC strategy papers, structure of review panels and their
membership, ERC grants cost model
ERC President, Professor Fotis Kafatos, invited to EUA Lisbon
Convention (March 2007) in a session devoted to debate and
exchange on ERC and its future policy development
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Key Issue IV
University/Enterprise Research Collaboration and
Knowledge Transfer
Issue is a central plank of the “Modernisation agenda” for Universities
Demonstrate Good Practice: EUA has held conferences and workshops
bringing together university/enterprise good practices
Produce “Guidelines” for Good Practice: Together with partner
organisations from industry (EIRMA), research and technology
organisations (EARTO), and university-based knowledge transfer offices
(PROTON) EUA has published the Responsible Partnering Guidelines (2005)
Promote and Disseminate: “Validation workshops” held between university
and businesses to gain critical feedback and revision; the “Responsible
Partnering Guidelines” were presented in a special session the European
Business Summit in March 2006
Dialogue with European Commission: Responsible Partnering Guidelines
provide input to the EC Communication on Knowledge Transfer
Responsible Partnering Conference – State of the art University / Business
collaboration 3 – 4 December 2007 Lisbon
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Key Issue V
Open Access and Scientific Publishing
Bottom-up demand from EUA membership on the need for a
university stakeholder perspective to be brought into the policy
debate
Open Access Working Group established in 2007, Chairman:
Professor Sijbolt Noorda (NL)
Complements the work / activities of other expert groups e.g.
UNICA Network, DG Research study on Scientific Publications
Markets in Europe, EURAB and ERC positions
Dual fold mission:
 To raise awareness of the importance of the Open Access issue to
University leadership and the wider University community, both in
terms of its impact on the research process and its financial
implications for university libraries
 To develop a common strategy for the university sector on key
selected issues to be presented to policy maker
Open Access Working Group presents its recommendations to EUA
Council in January 2008
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Key Issue VI
EUA position on ‘Green Paper’ on the Future of the ERA
Continuity: EUA input builds upon its views and positions (Presented from 2004 onwards)
on proposals for 7th Research Framework Programme and new instruments such as the
European Research Council
Establishing universities as key stakeholders in the debate: The ‘EUA Lisbon
Declaration’ Europe’s universities beyond 2010: Diversity with a common purpose
(May 2007)
Focusing on key issues: Autonomy, Funding, Conditions for sustainable research
missions, ERA and EHEA policy linkage, Knowledge Transfer and Innovation, Research
and Teaching
Engage in dialogue with European Institutions: EUA Research Policy Working Group
(chaired by EUA President) presents and discusses EUA viewpoints with European
Commission officials and European Parliamentarians
Gain feedback/input from EUA membership through Board and Council meetings,
Conferences and Workshops and the EUA electronic newsletter used to bring full
range of views into the debate
Publish and widely disseminate ‘EUA viewpoint on ERA Green Paper’ in advance of
the October 8-10th 2007 Lisbon conference amongst membership and other
stakeholders
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Maximising European, National and
Regional Research Opportunities Implications for the Strategic
Management of University Research
Develop a coherent university institutional strategy for research
and innovation linking FP7 project and network funding with the
new Regional Fund opportunities and the expanding number of
national research and innovation programmes
Develop strategies for ensuring both local/regional focus and
global outreach as components of institutional strategy in areas of
competitive strength
Develop more differentiated strategic missions for research and
innovation, including new approaches such as regional clusters of
universities, and working with other partners (triple helix)
Greater linkage between the ERA and EHEA policy instruments to
foster continuity in the strategic development of the university’s
teaching, research and innovation missions
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Thank you for your attention
For further information visit:
www.eua.be
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