University College Dublin’s leadership of three prominent European higher education fora gives it an important role in the conversation about the future of European research funding, according to the UCD President, Professor Orla Feely.

Professor Feely was speaking this week at an event to mark the appointment of Professor Dolores O’Riordan as Chair of Una Europa, an influential alliance of leading European research universities.

UCD representatives are now assuming leadership roles in three key European research and education fora. Professor O’Riordan’s appointment as Chair of Una Europa follows the recent election of UCD President, Professor Orla Feely as President of CESAER, a leading association of universities of science and technology in Europe. In addition, UCD’s Dipti Pandya was recently elected as the President of EARMA, the European Association of Research Managers and Administrators.

UCD’s deepening of its European ties comes at an opportune time with Member States currently reflecting on the direction of European research, technology and innovation policies beyond 2027. Official negotiations on the next European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation post Horizon Europe are due to begin in 2025. “The next three years will be very important in terms of influencing thinking around the next EU Research and Innovation Programme, which is due to start in 2027,” said Professor Feely. “By working collectively through our European networks we can help influence the shape of the next programme. Our leading participation in these key European research and education fora means that UCD is a strong part of a collective voice in this very important conversation.” said Professor Feely.

“UCD’s strategic priorities are highly consistent with the European Commission’s aim of digital transformation and delivery of a carbon neutral Europe by 2050. This provides a strong basis for engagement in relation to the future direction of European research funding. I know that I and my two UCD colleagues will work closely with our European colleagues to help advance important advocacy positions in this area.”

UCD is the top ranked institution nationally and the 21 st highest ranked university in Europe in funding obtained from Horizon Europe, the EU's key funding programme for research and innovation (which has a total budget of €95.5 billion).

Professor Feely continued, “UCD has strategically taken a more European focus in recent years and this is directly reflected in our research income, with EU funded research at UCD more than tripling in value over the last five years. This puts us on a more sustainable research footing and enables us to leverage further funding which is consistent with government strategy.”

“What we’re now experiencing in research funding terms is the fruition of this strategic shift. We have supported our outstanding researchers to target European research funding and invested in our research management services to ensure that our EU proposals are competitive and deliver research excellence. This approach has proved highly effective. Not only has it brought in additional research revenue to the University, it has diversified our funding base.”

UCD’s increased focus on European cooperation also strategically complements the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science’s recently published Statement of Strategy (2023-25) which calls for “close contact and collaboration with EU partners, the EU Commission and institutions on the progression of education and research and innovation initiatives.”

Professor Feely concluded, “It’s a really exciting time to be involved in leading these influential European networks, working collaboratively to shape the future direction of European research.”