Partner institutions of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU) stand as the leading force in translating research excellence into real-world applications. This was clearly shown at the high-level event "From Valorisation to Impact", which took place in Brussels on 12 March 2025.
The event brought together over 100 participants, expanding on ongoing discussions about EU competitiveness. It focused on key steps to better utilise the university-provided knowledge and maximise its impact on society. An Innovation Paper was presented, a booklet with Impact Case Studies, and the event also featured an innovation showcase, presenting concrete and exciting inventions from ECIU partners that impacted society positively. All papers can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
“Congratulations to ECIU for presenting this very rich report”,
said András Inotai about the ECIU Innovation Paper, Acting Head of the Taskforce on Startups & Scaleups and Head of the Unit for Innovation and Access to Finance at the European Commission. Inotai presented the European Commission’s innovation agenda, the outline of the upcoming Startup and Scaleup Strategy which should help close Europe’s innovation gap, the Union of Skills that was presented on 5 March, and initiatives around IP asset management, State Aid, Copyright and procurement.
“We must invest in Europes entrepreneurial culture, better valorise our research results and bring the key stakeholders into EU strategies such as the European Innovation Act”,
stated Mindaugas Bulota, Chair of the ECIU Innovation Directors Group and Head of the National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania) who presented the ECIU Innovation Paper.
The paper showcased ECIU’s vision of the role of innovative universities in enhancing the EU's competitiveness. It also offered concrete recommendations for better knowledge valorisation and strengthening the impact of universities on society.
Topics such as building an entrepreneurship culture, the role of venture capitalists, supporting local ecosystems and EU's state aid rules were discussed.
Additionally, ECIU presented an Impact Case Studies booklet – and the profound impact academic research can have on society.
Fuelled by a clear, joint vision and collaboration, ECIU universities are becoming engines for innovation and societal change. By showcasing their achievements, Impact Case Studies aim to inspire further collaboration, innovation and contribution to shaping a better future.
Moreover, ECIU organised an Innovation Showcase to make the impact of universities in Europe tangible. The event presented a selection of groundbreaking projects from across the ECIU network, demonstrating the ingenuity and collaborative strength of ECIU universities.
You can download all the papers that were presented, below:
