JU Vice-Rector for Research and Structural Funds Prof. Stanisław Kistryn and JU Rector’s Proxy for Innovation Prof. Andrzej Adamski represented the Jagiellonian University at the conference ‘Spreading Excellence, Enhancing Synergies: Perspectives from South-East Europe’, organised by the University of Ljubljana in cooperation with The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, of which the Kraków Alma Mater is a founding member.
After a very successful meeting held last June in Kraków, the members of The Guild continue to discuss ‘spreading excellence and widening participation in research and innovation’. The main aim of the conference was to develop methods of bridging the gaps between European regions in terms of their access to research and innovation, with particular emphasis on Southeast Europe, by means of European Union framework programmes in synergy with structural funds and other funding strategies.
The difference in level of participation in the Horizon 2020 programme between more and less developed countries has increased. This may risk furthering the economic, social, and cultural disparity between Europeans. There is a danger that people living in some regions may feel excluded from the European programmes that fund research and innovation, believing they are of little impact on their institutions.
‘Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation’ is one of the European Commission’s key initiatives undertaken within the framework of the Horizon 2020 programme. Its aim is to fully realise the research potential of European institutions and promote the advantages of innovation-based economy in all of Europe. The conference proved to be a great opportunity to discuss The Guild’s stance on the initiative with representatives of the European Commission, member and non-member universities as well as the Slovenian Government.
The participants stressed the benefits that widening participation brings to partners of research and innovation institutions in Europe, chiefly through strengthened cooperation and access to talented researchers from countries that have limited access to relevant programmes. Understanding the importance of rooting out inequality, the attendees also discussed various programmes and tools that would improve the less developed countries’ access to innovation (Teaming, Twinning, and ERA Chair).
