14 Jan 2026
The Guild conference discusses contribution of European Universities to European R&I system
On 8 January 2025, The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities hosted the conference 'Pilots without pathways? Alliances and R&I' and is now presenting some of its outcomes. The conference was held in the context of the Guild's Insight Paper on the European Universities alliances, which had been published in November 2025. The conference reflected on two key issues: the main value-add of European University alliances and the distinctive contribution they might make to Europe's R&I ecosystem.
Two Vice-Rectors presented their institution’s efforts of creating real added value for research and education beyond the lifetime of the alliances. Manuela Baccarini (University of Vienna, Circle U.) highlighted certain conditions which are needed for this to materialise: trusted partners; openness to include non-alliance partners; alignment between institutional and alliance goals to leverage synergies with strategic institutional funds; leadership commitment; and continued support for collaborative initiatives outside of the alliance.
Bálint Markó (Babeș-Bolyai University, EUTOPIA), presented the pathways to research collaborations explored within the EUTOPIA alliance. He noted that alliances can include the research dimension to their alliance without replacing existing ties. However, he pointed out that Erasmus+ cannot fund these activities, and that alliances had to look towards Horizon Europe funding.
In the discussion, the speakers emphasised the diversity of alliances and the different understandings of alliance-based research. Whilst acknowledging that education, research and service to society cannot be separated, alliances cannot offer a remedy for all policy problems. They contribute with the breadth of knowledge of their close partnerships, multidisciplinary approaches and by challenging assumptions and red tape at the institutional, national and European levels.
The challenge of achieving parity of esteem between research and teaching was often raised during the panel discussion. Participants highlighted the need to change the language around academic excellence and to valorise educational collaboration in promotion schemes. They also noted that we should move beyond the concept of alliances to the issues that will need to be addressed by future generations. Alliances provided the opportunity to imagine the challenges of the future, and the curriculum studied, through the eyes of students, and how they expect the world to be in decades to come. Alliances needed to respond to this challenge in education, as well as in re-imagining research and innovation.
Regarding funding, participants emphasised the importance of overcoming red tape, noting that often innovative ideas embraced both pedagogy and research collaboration: and it needed to become possible for this to be supported through Erasmus+. Facing fast-paced transformation in research collaboration (caused, for instance, by artificial intelligence), it was also highlighted that alliances have a role to play in driving institutional transformation with the support of the European Research Area framework.
For more information:
The Guild insight paper: European Universities alliances: Pilots without Pathways?