Our EU consultant Evgenia Mahler took part in the two-day event "Exchange of experience on the EU research framework programme Horizon Europe" in Cologne. The focus was on current developments and perspectives of the European funding programme as well as the exchange of best practices.
A highlight of the event was the session on the "Current situation and development prospects of universities of applied sciences (UAS) in EU business". In this session, experiences and best practices of successful UASs that are actively involved in European funding projects were presented. "It is particularly pleasing that there are signs of increasing participation in the current funding period. However, only around 40 percent of all UASs in Germany, including our university, are currently participating in the European Research Framework Programme, with the average UAS involved in one or two projects simultaneously," says Evgenia Mahler. She points out that the path to funding success for a UAS can be complex and lengthy. Supportive internal university structures and well-documented processes are therefore a prerequisite for successful, ongoing participation and long-term establishment in the European Research Area. It is now important to further consolidate the structures that have already been created since the approval of our first Horizon project in order to be able to successfully acquire European research projects within the framework of "Horizon Europe" in the future.
Active participation in the Horizon Europe programme has numerous advantages for UASs. It promotes the international visibility and reputation of universities. It also enables teaching to benefit from the latest research and international networking. In a presentation, members of the "FHnet" network of universities of applied sciences emphasised the strengths of universities of applied sciences as potential partners in EU projects. In particular, their interdisciplinary nature and strong practical orientation make UASs valuable partners in Horizon Europe research projects.
The exchange of experiences was organised by the EU Office of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the EU Cooperation Centre of the Science Organisations (KoWi) and the Federal Working Group of EU Experts (BAK). On 6 and 7 November 2024, the event brought together EU advisors and experts in the field of research management with representatives from state education and science ministries, the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) and project sponsors.