Last week, the University of Twente attended the board meeting of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU) in Brussels. The board discussed with representatives of the European Commission how it can support the implementation of the European Research Area (ERA).
The European Research Area (ERA) is an initiative of the European Union aimed at creating an integrated research and innovation space across Europe. Its goal is to better connect researchers, knowledge institutions, and businesses, allowing knowledge, data, and resources to circulate more freely between countries. By aligning research policies and programs more closely, European countries become more effective in the research sector.
Together with EU Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva and her colleague Manuel Aleixo, discussions focused on how ECIU can play a role in this. The ECIU has a long history of conducting joint research and promoting regional innovation ecosystems.
Knowledge valorisation
The University of Twente and its partners shared concrete examples of this, including public engagement in academic research and knowledge valorisation. They demonstrated how research translates into tangible societal and economic impact.
The conversation with Zaharieva and Aleixo focused on valorisation: turning research and innovation into practical benefits for society and the economy, and what is needed to achieve this.
AI task force
Discussions also addressed the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in research and education. ECIU’s active participation in the European Commission’s AI task force was highlighted, reinforcing ECIU’s role in shaping responsible digital transformation.
Finally, the ECIU board emphasised that long-term, systematic collaborations support mobility, interdisciplinarity, and sustainable networks for researchers across Europe.
For the University of Twente, the Brussels meeting reaffirmed the value of strong European partnerships. Together with ECIU partners, the university continues to contribute by pioneering, experimenting, leading, and actively participating in innovative research and educational initiatives.
