Jean-Eric Paquet, Director-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission, emphasises the importance of universities of applied sciences for Europe

It is a fact that universities of applied sciences in Europe play an important role in the transfer of innovation to the economy and society and have a major impact here, particularly in the regions. The EU Commission recently made reference to this. At a meeting of the presidents of UAS4EUROPE, a European network of universities of applied sciences, Jean-Eric Paquet emphasised the high relevance of universities of applied sciences for research. According to Paquet, it is important to promote their unique selling points such as application and practical relevance as well as their proximity to business and society and to utilise them more than before for Europe's regional "innovation ecosystems".

"It is very pleasing that the European Commission has recognised the great importance of universities of applied sciences. This is an important step towards setting the right course in the European research programmes so that the findings and developments developed at the universities also reach the economy and society. Universities of Applied Sciences play a key role in this transfer of innovation," says FHK Secretary General Kurt Koleznik. "It is therefore important that more experts from European universities of applied sciences are consulted in future when European research policy strategies are being developed. The FHK will continue to step up its efforts in this regard at national level and in the UAS4EUROPE network," says Koleznik.

UAS4EUROPE also gained a new member during the meeting of the presidents. With the "Universities of Applied Sciences Baden-Württemberg e.V. (HAW BW e.V.)", another national university association has joined UAS4EUROPE. This means that the network now comprises nine UAS umbrella organisations that continuously exchange information on the topic of research and development within the framework of UAS4EUROPE and jointly develop political strategies for greater visibility of universities of applied sciences in Europe.

The Austrian University of Applied Sciences Conference (FHK) is represented in the network as one of the founding members of UAS4EUROPE.