Leading international university associations have urged the European Commission to boost investment in research, innovation and higher education through its €300 billion?(?252 billion) , established to ¡°narrow the global investment gap worldwide¡±.

Umbrella bodies including the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities and the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), alongside several rectors¡¯ associations, research organisations and individual universities, published a statement on 19 March calling on the commission ¡°to scale up investment in research, innovation and higher education infrastructure¡± in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) worldwide, and to ¡°incentivise equitable collaborations with research institutions in Europe¡±.

¡°The European Commission, national authorities and the private sector must invest adequately in research, innovation and higher education ¨C in line with Global Gateway priorities ¨C to strengthen the competitiveness, resilience and preparedness of Europe,¡± the organisations said.

Launched in 2021, the commission described the Global Gateway as ¡°a new European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world¡±. Up to €300 billion will be invested in ¡°sustainable and high-quality projects¡± by 2027, the commission said, with the €150 billion ¡°Africa-Europe Investment Package¡± the first to be announced.

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While the commission cited education and research as one of five Global Gateway priorities, research ¡°does not feature as a strong component¡± of?, the university associations said, with other sectors represented including climate and energy, digital transformation, transport and health.

Research, innovation and higher education must be ¡°better integrated across all Global Gateway priorities to ensure the competitiveness, effectiveness and sustainability of our international partnerships¡±, the statement read.

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The groups further called for international research collaboration with low- and middle-income countries to be funded by an ¡°excellence-based¡± and ¡°self-standing¡± successor to the Horizon Europe framework programme, currently known as FP10, stating: ¡°EU budget simplification should not artificially differentiate excellent research collaboration between Europeans from our similarly excellent collaboration with partners in LMICs.¡±

At present,?the future of FP10 as a stand-alone programme is uncertain, with the European Commission signalling an intention to fold it into a broader European Competitiveness Fund.

The establishment of a research-centred advisory group to the Global Gateway, the university groups suggested in their statement, would ¡°enhance¡± the initiative ¡°with valuable experience, expertise, coordination and readiness to act¡±.

¡°Realising the full potential of the Global Gateway through a ¡®Team Europe approach¡¯ requires continued and sustained investment in research, innovation, and higher education as key enablers of sustainable development,¡± the statement concluded. ¡°Together with our partners in LMICs, we stand ready to contribute our expertise, experience, and partnerships to make this vision a reality.¡±

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emily.dixon@timeshighereducation.com