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Vlaamse Interuniversitaire Raad

VLIR

De Vlaamse Interuniversitaire Raad (VLIR) werd in 1976 opgericht als een instelling van openbaar nut.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Christian Ehler (Member of the European Parliament)

4 Nov 2025 · FP10

Meeting with Bruno Tobback (Member of the European Parliament) and Katholieke Universiteit te Leuven and Vrije Universiteit Brussel

24 Sept 2025 · Europees onderzoeks- en innovatiebeleid

Response to Options for support for R&D of dual-use technologies

29 Apr 2024

VLIR, the Flemish Interuniversity Council, is an autonomous body funded by the five universities of Flanders, Belgium: VUB, KU Leuven, UAntwerpen, UHasselt and Ghent University. The following feedback is the output of interuniversity discussions and represents its shared stance on the European Commission's White Paper On options for enhancing support for research and development involving technologies with dual-use potential. The feedback by VLIR has also been fully endorsed by CRef, the Conseil des rectrices et recteurs, a consultative body bringing together the rectors of the five universities of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. VLIR understands the need to focus on the EUs strategic autonomy and acknowledges that EU research institutes should play a vital role in strengthening the security of the EU. Of the presented options, VLIR prefers option 1, with a few considerations: Option 1 promotes stronger synergies between the 10th framework programme and other funding channels to facilitate the development of defence technology. VLIR asks the Commission to further clarify the synergies between FP10-projects and defence-focussed R&D programmes, to communicate clearly on these funding opportunities, and to provide clear guidelines on how synergies between FP10-projects and defence-oriented follow-up projects can be realised. This enables researchers to understand and fully utilise the funding landscape and should allow for a further development of dual-use technology originating in FP10 for military applications, as envisaged by the European Commission. The results of projects which are funded under the 10th framework programme (i.e. exclusive civil applications), and which have a dual-use potential (i.e. potential civil and military application) can be further developed/explored/exploited under the European Innovation Council (EIC) scheme for civil applications and under the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS) for the military applications, respectively. Option 1 refers to both the "Commission Recommendation on critical technology areas for the EU's economic security (03.10.2023)" and the "Council Recommendation on enhancing research security". Both documents mention the necessity of thorough risk assessment when working on dual-use research or within a critical technology area. VLIR asks the EC to provide clear guidelines on the necessary assessments, the responsibilities of both Member States and research organisations, and the requirements to be met by applicants and their institutions. Option 1 has the advantage that it avoids some of the risks that come with option 2, which are mentioned in the annex.
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Meeting with Tom Vandenkendelaere (Member of the European Parliament)

25 May 2021 · general introduction + case of Ahmadreza Djalali

Meeting with Jean-Philippe Gammel (Cabinet of Commissioner Tibor Navracsics) and Académie de recherche et d'enseignement supérieur and Unknown Organization

24 Sept 2018 · Higher Education