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Young European Research Universities Network

YERUN

The Young European Research Universities Network (YERUN) consists of 24 young research universities.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Deutsche Industrie- und Handelskammer and

28 Jan 2026 · Stakeholder dialogue on establishing the Erasmus+ programme for the period 2028-2034

Response to European Research Area (ERA) Act

10 Sept 2025

YERUN (Young European Research Universities Network) has consistently advocated for a stronger, more integrated and operational European Research Area (ERA) as a key enabler of Europes competitiveness, efficiency and innovation capacity. In response to the adoption of the ERA Policy Agenda 2025-2027 and the Competitiveness Council Conclusions, we have stressed the importance of translating shared ERA values into practical, enforceable commitments. Our members believe in the transformative potential of the ERA as a single market for knowledge and talent, underpinned by cooperation, inclusiveness and academic freedom. However, the progress made under previous ERA agendas has too often been uneven and fragmented. While voluntary coordination mechanisms have enabled positive developments, the persistent structural barriers, which range from mobility restrictions and fragmented funding landscapes to unequal recognition of qualifications and precarious research careers, continue limiting ERAs potential. That is why YERUN sees the proposed ERA Act as a vital next step. It is the instrument that can elevate the ERA from political aspiration to legal reality through codifying common standards, ensuring consistent application and supporting the realisation of the EUs fifth freedom: the free movement of knowledge, research and innovation. For young research universities, this matters profoundly. These institutions are agile, collaborative and deeply embedded in their regional ecosystems. They are crucial actors in talent development, open science and early-stage innovation - but they depend on enabling framework conditions at the European level to fully realise their potential. The ERA Act must be the tool that removes persistent barriers, aligns investments and protects the fundamental values that underpin a vibrant and inclusive R&I system. In response to the call for evidence launched by the European Commission (EC) on 6 August, we outline concrete policy areas (1. Unlocking the Fifth Freedom with Binding Commitments, 2. Enabling Talent Circulation and Research Careers, 3. Advancing Open Science and Research Infrastructures, and 4. Protecting Scientific Freedom and Institutional Autonomy) where the ERA Act can and should make a difference. The ERA Act is a unique opportunity to provide a legal foundation for the European Research Area that is coherent, future-proof and inclusive. YERUN requests that the EC and Member States use this opportunity to remove longstanding barriers, enable mobility and cooperation, and enshrine the values that sustain academic excellence. Young universities stand ready to co-shape and implement an ERA that works for all actors, and for the generations of researchers and innovators to come.
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Meeting with Lucilla Sioli (Director Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and

9 Jul 2025 · Exchange between AI Office and representatives from the Guild, CESAER, EUA, Coimbra Group and YERUN

Response to A European Strategy for AI in science – paving the way for a European AI research council

4 Jun 2025

YERUN (Young European Research Universities) strongly supports the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in scientific research. Our member institutions already see researchers across disciplines, from STEM to Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts (SSHA), using AI to enhance the quality, scope and pace of their work. AI is increasingly becoming a fundamental tool that empowers researchers to innovate and collaborate, including across disciplinary boundaries. This supports interdisciplinarity and the development of new scientific approaches. YERUN welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop a comprehensive European strategy for AI in science. However, alongside the opportunities, we must also recognise and address the potential challenges and barriers to the adoption of AI in research. These include unequal access to advanced AI tools and infrastructure, ethical and legal concerns around data use, and the need for sustainable and inclusive AI governance frameworks. We believe that Europe must adopt a coordinated approach to AI in research that ensures fairness and aligns with the principles of open science, research excellence and academic freedom. Researchers must be placed at the centre of AI policy development. They are best placed to identify the limitations, risks and opportunities of AI in their respective fields. We therefore call on the European Commission to meaningfully involve the research community in shaping and implementing this strategy. YERUN also wishes to highlight the following key points: Data Sovereignty and Protection: The valuable data produced in European universities and research institutions must be protected. It should not be harvested for the training of proprietary AI models without consent. AI in Education: AI literacy and skills should be embedded in university education, so that students are prepared as future researchers. Lifelong learning opportunities should be offered to ensure current researchers and academic staff can continue to develop their skills. Equitable Access: All researchers, regardless of institutional size or geographical location, should have access to advanced AI technologies and computing infrastructure. Institutional Sovereignty: Universities must retain sovereignty over their own institutional and research data, and be empowered to determine how AI is integrated into their work. YERUN remains committed to collaborating with the European Commission and other stakeholders to co-create a European strategy for AI in science.
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Meeting with Ekaterina Zaharieva (Commissioner) and

19 May 2025 · Next Framework Programme for R&I, competitiveness

Meeting with Lina Gálvez (Member of the European Parliament)

13 May 2025 · Universities and research

Meeting with Filip Van Depoele (Head of Unit Education, Youth, Sport and Culture) and European University Association and

4 Apr 2025 · Exchange of views on the future of the international dimension of the Erasmus+ Programme

Response to EU Start-up and Scale-up Strategy

17 Mar 2025

YERUN welcomes the European Commissions initiative to enhance conditions for startups and scaleups within the Single Market. Universities are key drivers of economic development, knowledge dissemination, and technology transfer, yet their success in generating spin-offs depends on supportive framework conditions and resources. While YERUN agrees with the hurdles identified in the consultation, particular attention should be given to regulatory and bureaucratic barriers, the small and fragmented EU venture capital market, intellectual property and market access challenges, and limited expert support. An additional, often overlooked barrier is the limited -and often challenging- collaboration pathways between universities and the entrepreneurial sector. YERUN calls for action in the following areas: regulatory and market integration through the 28th freedom and ERA Act; increased dedicated funding to strengthen universities capacity to commercialise innovations through targeted measures outlined in the full paper; a more integrated EU market to boost demand and supply for innovative businesses and skilled talent; and better utilisation of existing knowledge and recommendations. Strengthening conditions for spin-offs will allow universities to maximise their academic expertise and innovation potential, driving significant regional and socio-economic progress across Europe.
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Meeting with Lina Gálvez (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Feb 2025 · Research and Innovation

Response to Single Market Strategy 2025

30 Jan 2025

YERUN the Young European Research Universities Network welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the EU public consultation on the Single Market Strategy 2025. As a network of forward-looking research universities committed to excellence, inclusion and impact, YERUN strongly advocates for the inclusion of the "fifth freedom" the free movement of knowledge to enhance research, innovation and education in the Union as a cornerstone of the updated strategy. We align with the vision articulated in Enrico Lettas report Much more than a market, recognising that the Single Markets future success hinges on harnessing Europes knowledge and innovation potential, as enshrined in Title XIX of the TFEU, to drive inclusive and sustainable prosperity. The fifth freedom is not merely an addition to the existing framework; it is a transformative principle that can unlock the full potential of Europes Single Market. By embedding the free movement of knowledge into its 2025 strategy, the EU can create an environment where innovation flourishes, talent thrives, and societal challenges are addressed collaboratively. YERUN stands ready to support the EU in shaping this vision and ensuring that the Single Market remains a beacon of opportunity and prosperity for all Europeans. Kindly access the full feedback in the attached file.
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Meeting with Christian Ehler (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and European University Association and

27 Jan 2025 · FP10

Meeting with Christophe Galand (Head of Unit Budget) and European University Association and

23 Jan 2025 · Discussion on research place in the the future Multiannual Financial Framework

Response to Communication on the European Research Area Implementation

30 Sept 2024

Please see the attached document.
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Response to Options for support for R&D of dual-use technologies

30 Apr 2024

YERUN's feedback is included in the pdf attached.
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Response to Attractive and sustainable careers in higher education

6 Feb 2024

YERUN welcomes the steps taken so far to improve careers in higher education (HE). This consultation gives the opportunity to complement these efforts by looking at academic careers more widely and shed light on some of the aspects that continue to affect them. Aware of the permeability of careers in academia, we advise against establishing a framework for teachers and professional services staff as opposed to a framework for researchers, but rather encourage an integrated policy venue that allow us to shed light on the complexity and richness of these careers and co-create measures and innovative approaches to make them more attractive and sustainable. YERUN suggests 3 steps to make careers in academia more attractive and sustainable: 1) Celebrating the diversity of contributions and creating paths for talent to grow. Careers in academia often evolve in broad and non-linear ways to cover different aspects and tasks. However, this diversity is not well recognised in career progression, with a persistent imbalance in the weight given to some research-related outputs over other types of activities. Fostering nation-wide approaches to evaluation and recognition that celebrate the diversity of these roles, support professionals to progress in line with their talents and interests and develop more diverse career paths is part of making careers in academia more attractive and sustainable. If Member States (MS) adopted such innovative approaches, it would be much easier for universities to adjust their hiring and promotion criteria, thanks to a supportive and conducive regulatory framework. The EU could continue in its role of facilitating peer learning and coherence across its MS. 2) Creating adequate support systems for continuous skills development: In a world that undergoes rapid changes and new emerging challenges, universities and their staff are under constant and growing pressure to solve many issues very quickly (e.g. climate change, AI, pandemics, etc.). These challenges require new advanced skills and knowledge: those working in academia need to be supported and empowered accordingly. The Council Recommendation (CR) should highlight the crucial importance of investing in skills development to help those working in universities build and strengthen the knowledge needed to face the above challenges and demands. This is key to empower the roles relating to teaching, community engagement, knowledge valorisation, management, leadership, and support activities. At EU level, innovative ideas could be explored such as launching a prestigious funding programme supporting innovative educational excellence, on a par with MSCA and/or ERC which target research excellence. 3) Empowering universities with adequate framework conditions to support diverse career developments. Universities across Europe share a common challenge of continually adapting to changes in funding priorities which inhibit long term strategic governance as well as a balanced whole-of-institution planning of human resources (HR). Talent in universities will only thrive if institutions can rely on sustainable funding to facilitate self-governance and a genuine transformation in line with their institutional vision, and if they have the necessary flexibility for a more targeted channelling of resources in line with their needs. The CR should acknowledge that, while a balanced combination of diverse funding sources is crucial for promoting change, sustained attractiveness of HR requires strong institutions that can define strong HR strategies aligned with their vision and mission. This requires institutional autonomy and adequate basic and life-cycle funding. Moreover, a good balance will need to be found between facilitating permeability across sectors and retaining talent.
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Meeting with Christian Ehler (Member of the European Parliament)

30 Nov 2023 · European research policy

Meeting with Mariya Gabriel (Commissioner)

16 Mar 2021 · YERUN's new strategy 2021-2025

Meeting with Keith Sequeira (Cabinet of Commissioner Carlos Moedas)

12 Jan 2017 · Presentation of YERUN