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Setting the stage & why EU engagement matters

The day began with welcome notes and reflections from Meri Georgievska -Van de Laar, and inspiring speeches from Prof. Annelien Bredenoord, Chair of the Executive Board of ����ý and Prof. Arwin van Buuren, Strategic Dean of Impact and Engagement. Both emphasized that our university is becoming a truly engaged university, with impact and engagement being our third mission in the next strategic period. Prof. Van Buuren talked about his new role and EUR’s impact and engagement strategy, stressing the particular importance of our European partnerships and collaborations. Prof. Bredenoord reflected on the challenging changing landscapes, both nationally, at EU level, and globally, which inevitably drive us to deeper societal engagement with both academic and non-academic partners, especially with European policy makers and funders, but also university alliances and networks. As Prof. Bredenoord noted, in the past 5 years EUR has taken a more proactive and strategic role on the EU research and innovation funding scene, referring to the stories mentioned in our latest publication which celebrates these successes. Moreover, she encouraged EUR’s wider community to leverage on those experiences and take advantage of our growing presence in Brussels, and doing so, to continue expanding EUR’s EU activities and engagement, not only through projects, but also through evidence-based policy making, thought leadership and research collaborations, and through our UNIC alliance. Prof. Bredenoord shared her recent experience as member of the High-Level Expert Group on the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe which provided advice to the European Commission on the future of EU’s Framework Program for Research and Innovation (FP10).

This sentiment of the increasing role and importance of the EU R&I agenda was echoed and expanded by René Repasi, professor at Erasmus School of Law, and Member of the European Parliament. Prof. Repasi shared his personal experience, a career that successfully combines science and politics, also providing a broader political perspective, reminding the audience of the current debates in Brussels - particularly around the next Framework Programme (FP10) - which will influence the direction and availability of research funding. His message was clear: political momentum matters, and now is the time to strengthen our Brussels connections.  

Empowering researchers

In the panel session moderated by Jovana “Jovie” Ostojic, communication advisor at Erasmus Engagement and Research Services (ERS) engaged in a very lively and informative discussion with EUR’s EU Liaison Officer and some of EUR’s funding advisors, project managers and innovation managers, highlighting the resources available to EUR researchers to engage in EU funded research initiatives as well as other activities at EU level. Furthermore, they shared how their work facilitates building partnerships and increases societal engagement and impact. Their appearance on stage underscored not only the breadth of expertise available but also the collaborative team spirit needed to succeed in today’s funding landscape.

Sharing is caring

Number of EUR researchers joined also the stage and shared their personal experiences, success stories but also moments of reflection, covering pathways from Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowships to ERC grants, major collaborative projects and pan European collaborations. The stories covered what it takes to succeed and remain resilient in a highly competitive funding landscape. Emphasis was placed on the importance of persistence, including the willingness to revise and resubmit proposals but also about the impact of expressing authentic, even unconventional, research motivations. The session concluded with a reminder that funding proposals are read by institutions - they’re read by people, affected by- and concerned about their surroundings, and that the projects that get funded are the ones that tackle human problems and speak to humans about those problems.

In addition to the personal stories of our laureates, we were also addressed with very inspiring words and messages by the President of the Scientific Council of the ERC, Prof. Maria Leptin and by our own Prof. Eveline Crone, who in the past also served as a Vice-Chair of the ERC council. Both speeches emphasized the importance of SSH in frontier and curiosity driven research, encouraging EUR’s researchers to apply for ERC, and other EU funding.

EUR’s research vision 2030

The event was also a unique opportunity for engaging with EUR’s deans of research who tapped into EUR’s Research vision 2030, and shared also some of the specific aspects of the individual research strategies of their schools, and the related EU perspectives. During this session, moderated by Prof. Maarten IJzerman, Dean of ESHPM and lead of the steering group Strategy 2030, it became clear that there is room and need for diversifying funding sources for our research, and moreover that there is abundance of experience and knowledge that needs to be cross-fertilized and leveraged on. What was also mentioned on number of occasions was the high academic workloads which stand in the researchers’ way towards greater EU engagement and diversifying their activities beyond their traditional academic jobs, teaching and publications. The solution is not simple, neither is there a quick fix, but with the recognition and rewards program, the diversified career pathways, strategic talent management and through targeted guidance and support, we are slowly moving in the right direction.   

What’s on the horizon

In the afternoon, attention shifted to the EU’s ambitions and the opportunities ahead. Moderated by EUR’s EU Liaison Officer, Meri Georgievska-Van de Laar, the panel featured speakers like Joep Roet (Dpt. Director of the Duthc House for Research Innovation and ����ý in Brussels, Neth-ER), MEP René Repasi, Kimberly Couvson–Liebe (Net4Society) and Marleen van den Berg, National Contact Point for MCSA. They provided insights into upcoming policy shifts, the EU competitiveness agenda, the ambitions and needs for establishing the EU 5th freedom of knowledge and talent, the developments in the European Research Area, and the expected changes in the EU’s investment framework, incl. the FP10 for R&I. Our guests shared ideas and tools that can help researchers - particularly in the Social Sciences and Humanities - find relevant funding and collaboration opportunities in the years ahead, like the new funding instrument “Choose Europe.” aimed to breed and retain talent in Europe.  These conversations provided attendees with not only political and policy contexts, but also concrete pathways to align their research with EU priorities.  

Closing thoughts – friends, elephants and thinking big

ERS Director Michiel Besters wrapped the program of the day with a fitting metaphor: EU Day was about both “friends” - our partners and support networks - and “elephants” - the big, sometimes uncomfortable truths we must face, such as EU budget issues, Dutch political changes, and high workloads.

Rector Magnificus Prof. Jantine Schuit echoed this balance of optimism and realism, closing the event by encouraging all of us to ‘think big – think beyond your research idea and the grant. Think also about the partnerships you’ll build, the networks you’ll join, the events you will attend, the talent you’ll nurture, and impact you will have on society, other people, our planet... Because at EUR, that’s what ‘making minds matter’ truly means.