Brussels Briefing on 12 October 2011 for the official presentation of the «European Union Universities of Small States (EU²S²) Association».
«We want to compete on equal opportunities» was the key-message highlighted by the President of the “European Union Universities of Small States Association (EU²S²)», Professor Constantinos Christofides, Rector of the University of Cyprus, during the official presentation of the newly founded Association which took place on 12 October 2011, in Brussels.
Image from the Brussels Briefing on 12 October 2011.
During the Briefing, the President of the EU²S², Prof. Christofides, together with two members of the Steering Committee of the Association, Prof. Juanito Camilleri, Rector of the University of Malta, and Prof. Juras Banys, Vice-Rector for Research of the Vilnius University, presented the aims of the Association and the EU²S² proposal for the enhancement of engagement of universities from small member states in the future EU research.
The EU²S² was founded in June 2011 and currently represents 20 universities from 7 countries with population up to 3,5 million: Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, and Slovenia. The aim of the initiative is to overcome disadvantages inherent to the small size of participating states.
The panel emphasised the need for the creation of an environment that will enable the small states of the EU to participate competitively and more constructively in future EU programmes. Within this framework, the EU²S² members will collaborate for the exchange of experiences, ideas and principles of good practice. The presenters underlined that the EU²S² is not an association of the “small against the big”. Instead, they would like to see the needs of the smaller member states better represented in future European research programmes, including Horizon 2020.
The EU²S² Association will coordinate efforts towards the development of joint projects and activities to be funded by the European Commission. The EU²S² is proposing the creation of a special EU fund for special calls addressing the needs of universities from small EU states to build capacity, thus “creating a stairway to excellence in research and teaching for each country according to its specialisation”. Moreover, the need for inclusion and significant participation of universities from small EU states in all project consortia of HORIZON 2020 was addressed during the presentation.
«The small states need to have the opportunity to develop the appropriate infrastructure to attract large industry and the best researchers», stressed the panel. The panellists highlighted the importance for the allocation of special EU support towards the creation of research and high-tech infrastructure and human capital in HORIZON 2020. In this context, the EU²S² Association is proposing a number of issues to be included in the Horizon 2020 proposal, such as:
«In order to turn the existing trend of «brain drain», into a «brain-gain effect», the EU needs to invest in capacity building in the small states», underlined the members from Cyprus, Malta and Lithuania. The outcomes of such an initiative would include:
The Briefing was jointly organised by the University of Cyprus and the European Office of Cyprus (EOC), and took place at the EOC premises in Brussels. The event attracted more than 50 participants representing the EU institutions, Permanent Representations to the EU, European Networks of Universities, Regional Representation Offices, the business sector and the press.
Image from the Brussels Briefing on 12 October 2011.
The EU²S² Association is currently in the process of presenting their ideas to the European Commission and Members of the European Parliament. During the two days visit in Brussels, the President and the Steering Committee of the EU²S² (Prof. Juanito Camilleri, Rector of the University of Malta, Prof. Richard Muscat, Pro-Rector of the University of Malta, and Prof. Alar Karis, Rector of the University of Tartu) met with Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner Antonio Tajani, and with Mr. Stefan Zotti, Member of the Cabinet of Commissioner Hahn.
Commissioner Vassiliou, responsible for the Education, Culture, Youth and Multilingualism agenda, welcomed the idea for the creation of a centre of excellence in each of the small states and invited the representatives of the EU²S² to explore the potential of their participation both in the existing and in the future Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), under the European Institute of Technology and Innovation (EIT).
A KIC is a highly integrated, creative and excellence-driven partnership which brings together the fields of education, technology, research, business and entrepreneurship, in order to produce new innovations and new innovation models that inspire others to emulate it. The EIT designated its three first KICs in December 2009: Climate KIC (focus on Climate Change), EIT ICT Labs (focus on Information and Communication Technologies), KIC InnoEnergy (Sustainable Energy).
The KICs have the autonomy to define their own legal status, internal organisation and working methods. Hence, Commissioner Vassiliou informed the members of the delegation that even the existing KICs could accept new partners that have the capacity to contribute to the aims of the KIC. Each KIC has collocation centres in different EU member states, and Commissioner Vassiliou addressed the need to have a KIC in each EU country in order to speak for a real European initiative.
Commissioner Vassiliou expressed her intention to hold an «EIT Conference» in Cyprus under the Presidency of the Council of the EU. In this conference, the European Commission will present the strategy for the structure of the future KICs that will be launched in 2014 on the following themes: Mobility and Smart Cities; Healthy Leaving; Food 4 Future. She invited the EU²S² Association to support and participate in the conference, as her inspiration is «to make Cyprus the MIT of Europe».
At the meeting with Mr. Stefan Zotti, Member of the Cabinet of Commissioner Hahn in charge of Regional policy, the members of the EU²S² Association discussed the European Commission’s draft legislative package adopted on 6 October 2011 which will frame cohesion policy for 2014-2020. Mr. Zotti presented the key-points of the proposal, and he emphasised the new Partnership Contracts.
Partnership Contracts, agreed between the Commission and Member States, will set out the commitments to concrete actions to deliver Europe 2020 objectives. The Partnership Contract will constitute a firm agreement between the Commission and the member states regarding the use of funds and performance. Failure to achieve progress may lead to suspension or cancellation of funding.
Minimum allocations are fixed for a number of priority areas where the EU has set itself goals. For example, in more developed and transition regions, at least 80% of ERDF resources at national level will be allocated to energy efficiency and renewables, innovation and the improvement of the competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). This amount will be 50% in less developed regions, reflecting their broader development needs. ESF investments will be fully aligned with EU objectives and targets on employment, education and poverty reduction.
In 2013, each member state will be asked to draw up Partnership Contract where they will assess their development needs and define their national priorities supporting their National Reform Programmes and the achievement of their national targets for delivering on the Europe 2020 strategy. Member states need to involve different partners in the preparation of Partnership Contracts. A Code of Conduct will ensure that partners are involved in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Partnership Contracts and programmes in a consistent manner. The important outcome of the meeting was that Mr. Zotti made a note to add also the Universities in the list of partners mentioned by the Code of Conduct.
EU²S² Participating Institutions
Cyprus: The University of Cyprus; Cyprus University of Technology; Cyprus Open University
Luxembourg: University of Luxembourg
Malta: University of Malta
Estonia: University of Tartu; Tallinn University of Technology; Tallinn University; Estonian University of Life Sciences
Latvia: University of Latvia; Riga Technical University; Daugavpils University; Liepaja University; Latvia University of Agriculture
Lithuania: Vilnius University; Klaipeda University; Siauliai University
Slovenia: University of Ljubljana; University of Maribor; University of Primorska
Contact Details:
Address: Research and International Relations Service
University House «Anastasios G. Leventis», 1 Panepistimiou Avenue, 2109 Aglandjia,
P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
Tel: +357-22894288
E-mail: .cy
