March 2025 - Alliance4universities

On 11 March, the General Assembly of the A4U was held at the UPF Barcelona, chaired by the Rector of the UPF, Dr Laia de Nadal, and with the Rector of the UAM (Amaya Mendikoetxea Pelayo), the Rector of the UAB (Javier Lafuente Sancho) and the Rector of the UC3M (Ángel Arias). Also in attendance were the Heads of Cabinet, Vice-Rectors for Teaching, Internationalisation, Research and Transfer/Innovation.

During the assembly, the results of the 3 joint A4U degrees, the results of the mobilities and international missions and the results of the OPERA activity and participation in Horizon Europe were presented.

Regarding the results of the 3 joint degrees of the A4U, we continue with good results of demand, especially highlighting the Degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, with cut-off marks above 12 (out of 14) and the ratio of supply vs. demand above 300%.

In the field of internationalisation, the A4U’s capacity to attract funds from the Erasmus+ programme was highlighted, obtaining more than 2 million euros to date, which has facilitated the mobility of more than 600 people to and from more than 15 countries outside the EU. The Mission to South Africa was also highlighted, where relations with strategic partners were strengthened and the First Spanish-South African Universities Symposium, entitled ‘Global Health at a Crossroad’, was held.

In addition, some preliminary results of the IUNE Report for the Alliance were presented. From this report we highlight that the teaching and research staff of the A4U universities (representing 6% of the Spanish University System – SUE) publish 17% of the total scientific publications of the SUE and receive 24% of the citations (Wos Indicators (Core Collection) – 2014 – 2023). In addition, our universities occupy the top positions in Spain in the indicator for attracting resources per teaching and research staff, both in the Spanish R&i Plan and in H2020. The full report will be published soon.

From OPERA’s report, the very positive results of participation in Horizon Europe were highlighted, with special emphasis on Pillars 1 and 2. During this 2024, the universities of the Alliance have raised 72 million euros in 143 projects of Horizon Europe.

Also the different visits to Brussels, as well as the meetings with different personalities of the moment. Finally, the Activity Plan 2025 and the budget were presented and approved.

Before the Assembly, the Vice-Rectors for Research and Innovation presented their strategies to the counterpart Vice-Rectors, in order to share good practices, ideas and look for synergies. Then, OPERA’s Director (Ignasi Salvado Estivill) explained them the current geopolitical situation (vision from Brussels), explaining the possible impacts for the universities of the EU Competitiveness Compass, the Clean Industrial Deal, and The Union of Skills. He also presented in detail the Business Plan 2025 and the associated budget.

OPERA is theA4U’s Office for the Promotion of the European Research Activities, based in Brussels since 2009.

From February 24th to 26th, a delegation from Alianza 4 Universidades (A4U) convened in Brussels to delve into the most pressing topics in Research and Innovation (R&I). The delegation included Vice-Rectors for Research and Innovation, Directors of R&I, and Heads of EU Grants Offices from the four universities that comprise A4U: the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M), and Pompeu Fabra University (UPF).

The meeting began with a warm welcome from Elena Domínguez, the CSIC delegate in Brussels. Montserrat Badia Serrano (EC – DG RTD) provided insights into the European Commission’s preparations for the next R&I Framework Program. Slaven Misljenčević (EC – DG RTD) then outlined the strategy for consolidating EU-level initiatives to attract and retain scientific talent through the ERA Talent Platform. Agustín Calvo highlighted the EC’s efforts to establish a pan-European pension fund for mobile researchers, known as the RESAVER program.

The agenda continued with interactive sessions led by Mila Bas and Josefina Enfedaque on the European Research Council (ERC), followed by a session on the European Innovation Council (EIC) with Ewa Kocińska-Lange. While A4U universities have achieved notable success in ERC grants, the focus now is on improving performance in EIC initiatives to amplify the societal impact of their research. Catherine Berens delivered a practical session on shaping the next Life Sciences Strategy.

Marina Martínez (SOST-CDTI) addressed the political developments impacting universities and their R&I activities, proposing actionable steps to ensure proactive engagement. Additionally, Dirk de Craemer (UGhent) shared organizational best practices in research management, offering valuable insights into Ghent University’s internal structures and strategies.

The meeting was organized by A4U’s Office for the Promotion of European Research Activities (OPERA) at the CSIC facilities in Brussels.

About Alianza 4 Universidades (A4U):
A4U is a strategic alliance of four leading Spanish public universities: the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M), and Pompeu Fabra University (UPF). Established to strengthen collaboration, A4U aims to enhance the research profiles of its member universities, foster internationalization, and promote mobility for students, faculty, and researchers. The alliance also prioritizes quality teaching, interuniversity degree programs, and online training.

In 2009, A4U launched OPERA to support its universities in securing European research funding and influencing R&D policy. OPERA’s objectives include:

Enhancing the competitiveness of A4U research at European and international levels.
Identifying new funding opportunities and policies relevant to A4U universities.
Influencing European R&D and innovation policymaking.
Providing personalized support in Brussels for researchers involved in European projects.

Participants from A4U Universities:
Vice-Rectors: Vanesa Daza (UPF), Cristina Pujades (UPF), Daniel Jaque (UAM), Maite Blázquez (UAM), Assumpció Malgosa (UAB), Rosa M. Sebastián (UAB), Guillermo Carpintero (UC3M).
Directors: Iván Martínez (UAB), Núria Claver (UAB), Clara Gómez (UAM), Rafa Oliveros (UAM), Eva Martín (UPF), Regina García (UAM), Cristina Velasco (UC3M), Mònica de Forn (UPF), Ana Sagardoy (UPF), Chelo Morán (UC3M), Isabel Ballesteros (UC3M), Florencia Giunta (UC3M).

A4U Annual Assembly: 2024 report and 2025 Action plan approved

A4U Research and Innovation Delegates Meet in Brussels to Strategize for the Future Following EU Competitiveness Compass Publication

Archive for month: March, 2025