CIVIS joins call urging greater EU Investment in global research and higher education

In a significant step toward more equitable global research partnerships, CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance – has co-signed a joint call urging the European Commission to strengthen its commitment to research, innovation, and higher education infrastructure in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). The statement, available to read and support here, advocates for concrete policy action and strategic investment aligned with the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative. The University of the Witwatersrand, one of our Associate Members, also signed the document, an initiative of The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities.

Four Strategic Calls for Action

Sustained Investment in research and higher education infrastructures, consistent with Global Gateway priorities, to unlock mutual socio-economic benefits;
Enhanced Integration of research, innovation, and education into the EU’s 360-degree approach, recognising these sectors as critical enablers across all Global Gateway priority value chains;
A Research-Focused Advisory Group, designed to embed expertise into the strategic direction of the Global Gateway;
Excellence-Based Funding Mechanisms, particularly a self-standing Framework Programme 10 (FP10), to support long-term, high-quality research collaboration with LMICs.

Research at the Heart of Global Engagement

The statement builds on previous collaborative efforts such as the joint paper with The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities and the co-signed Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) statement with DAAD. These initiatives stress the necessity of embedding research at the heart of Europe’s external partnerships, a sentiment echoed in both the Draghi Competitiveness Report and the Niinistö Report.

Research-driven international collaborations are not only foundational for sustainable development and knowledge economies,” the statement asserts, “they are also instrumental in tackling shared challenges such as health threats, climate change, and digital transformation.”

Yet, research remains insufficiently prioritised in the EU’s Global Gateway flagship projects announced for 2025. The current underinvestment risks undermining the EU’s ambitions for global leadership in sustainable development. The signatories urge the Commission and national governments to seize the post-2027 EU budget as a pivotal opportunity to remedy this.

The signatories stress that simplified funding mechanisms and robust policy orientations are necessary to enable sustainable interregional cooperation. Strengthening the knowledge ecosystems of partner countries, especially in Africa, should go hand-in-hand with reinforcing research security and excellence in Europe. Initiatives like the Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE) and the African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence (ARISE) are cited as key examples of impactful collaborations that should receive further EU support.

A key demand is the formation of a dedicated advisory group of universities and research organisations to complement the existing Global Gateway advisory bodies for business and civil society. Such a group would offer direct expertise and foster confidence among private actors to invest in cross-continental collaborations.

Advocacy Gains Momentum in Light of EU Budget Negotiations

This joint call forms part of a wider advocacy push by the European Research Alliance for Sustainable Development (ERASuD), which convened in Madrid on 24 April 2025 to align its strategic priorities amid changing EU leadership and tightening budgets. Participants included representatives from CSIC, the Stockholm Environment Institute, Institut Pasteur, IRD, GIGA, and IDOS, among others. The network, formally launched at the European Parliament in November 2024, is rapidly establishing itself as a key voice for promoting equitable and long-term partnerships between European researchers and LMIC institutions.

Towards a Truly Global ‘Team Europe’ Approach

Ultimately, the joint call represents a resounding endorsement of the Global Gateway’s potential—but only if research, innovation, and education are treated as central components. The CIVIS Alliance and the University of the Witwatersrand, alongside an expanding network of academic and research institutions, affirm their readiness to contribute expertise, build partnerships, and co-create knowledge that benefits all.

Joint statement with the Guild:

Read more and sign

_{Photo credits: CIVIS Communications Team}