The Finnish higher education institutions, together with Nordic partners, are hosting an event on The Role of Higher Education Institutions in Securing the EU’s Competitiveness and Resilience – Nordic Higher Education Institutions’ Perspectives for the 2024–2029 European Parliament and Commission. The event will take place on 19 March from 13:00- 20:00 in Brussels.

How can we harness the full potential of Nordic higher education institutions (HEIs) in fortifying the EU's resilience on the global stage? Why is the entire HEI value chain, from basic to applied research, crucial for securing the EU's future competitiveness? What are Nordic higher education institutions’ perspectives on the EU's strategic autonomy?  

With the dawn of the new EU legislative term, the timing is ideal to address the challenges facing the union and explore potential solutions. The event will place a spotlight on the crucial role Nordic higher education institutions can assume in bolstering the EU's competitiveness and resilience.

The event will create thought-provoking conversations with many speakers playing key roles in shaping the EU’s research & innovation landscape, such as Ville Niinistö (Member of European Parliament), Pernille Weiss (Member of European Parliament), Anna Panagopoulou (Director of ERA & Innovation, DG RTD), Barbara Kauffmann (Director for Employment and Social Governance, DG EMPL), Jonas Cederlöf (Policy Officer, DG DEFIS), and other esteemed representatives and experts from the EU institutions and Nordic higher education institutions.

Please register for the event here.

Programme:

13:00-13:30 Registration   

13:30-13:40 Welcoming words by Nordic higher education institutions

13:40-13:50 Keynote by the European Commission: Why we need the entire value chain on board to secure the EU’s competitiveness and resilience – from basic research to applied research and beyond

13:50-14:00 Keynote by the European Parliament: What kind of FP10 do we need to ensure the EU’s security and resilience?

14:05-14:50 Panel I: Nordic HEIs’ role in the future of EU open strategic autonomy

14:55-15:45 Panel II: Nordic HEIs’ contributions to green and digital transitions while securing the EU’s leading role in critical technologies 

15:45-16:15 Coffee & networking break  

16:20-17:10 Panel III: Nordic HEIs’ perspectives on economically and socially sustainable states fostering an equal and resilient EU

17:15-18:05 Panel IV: HEIs on the Arctic and Eastern EU external border – defence and security in research and development

18:10-18:30 Closing remarks

18:30-20:00 Networking reception