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EUA’s research policy activities have grown substantially in recent years, a fact reflected strongly in the 2005 Glasgow Declaration and its increased emphasis on the universities’ pivotal role in the research and innovation process, and in relation to research training and research career development. EUA aims to ensure that the integral link between teaching and research is strengthened in universities across Europe and that the full potential of universities in the production of knowledge, its transmission, dissemination and utilisation in technological innovation is realised, thus maximising the university contribution to innovation and sustainable economic development.

Thanks to its projects and studies involving member institutions and other organisations active in science policy research at European level, EUA provides European actors and universities with a unique expertise on research strategy and funding, doctorate programmes, research career issues and collaborative research.

Towards a Europe of Knowledge

Although Europe has a strong tradition of excellence in many fields of research, European research is often fragmented, failing to put together the necessary resources for ground-breaking projects. EUA research actions are focused on the creation of a European Research Area, aimed at strengthening Europe's research and development resources. EUA acknowledges the need for greater investment in research and an increase in the number of researchers as encouraged by the European Commission and other actors. The Association also supports the Lisbon and Barcelona objectives and encourages heads of state and government to look at universities as partners in this process as they play a crucial role in making Europe “the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world” by 2010.

The importance of the unique contribution European universities can make to improving Europe's research capacity, and the need to strengthen the research function of Europe's universities, have been underlined in a first position paper on the Research Role of Europe’s Universities at a major conference on "The Europe of Knowledge 2020: A Vision for University-based Research and Innovation" organised by the then European Commissioner for Research, Philippe Busquin, in Liège in April 2004. In parallel, EUA has participated in the Forum on University Research established by the European Commission as a direct result of the Liège Conference. Its findings were presented to the current Commissioner for Research, Janez Poto?nik, in May 2005. Entitled "European Universities - Enhancing Europe's Research Base", the report aims to better define policy frameworks that will assist universities in contributing to and being part of a European Research Area based on the Lisbon and Barcelona objectives. Included are recommendations on behalf of the Forum aimed to be implemented at institutional, regional/national and European level.

Financing an ambitious European Research policy

Similarly of major importance to universities, EUA has ensured that the voice of universities is heard at European level in the debate over proposals for the forthcoming European Commission’s Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7) and other related issues, such as the European Institute of Technology, in order to ensure adequate resources for university-based research.

Major progress has also been made in raising the profile of good practices in research collaboration between universities and business enterprises through the joint publication by EUA, the European Industrial Research Management Association (EIRMA), ProTon Europe and the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO) of the guide "Responsible Partnering - A Guide to Better Practices for Collaborative Research and Knowledge Transfer between Science and Industry".