The umbrella organisations of European universities of applied sciences, which have joined forces in the UAS4EUROPE network, have published their position on the EU's 9th Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP 9). The Austrian universities of applied sciences are represented in the network by the Austrian University of Applied Sciences Conference (FHK).

In its position, UAS4EUROPE highlights aspects that are essential to make FP9 a success as the EU's largest research funding programme:
- Integration of the "Smart Partnerships for Regional Impact (SPFRI)" concept in FP9, which aims to strengthen inter-institutional cooperation between universities of applied sciences, universities and non-university research institutions, companies, the regions and other public and private stakeholders. This will promote excellence and regional added value.
- Improving the budgetary framework conditions
- Maintaining the three funding priorities from the predecessor programme H2020: Excellent Science, Industrial Leadership, Societal Challenges.
- Ensure that research in the social sciences, health sciences and the arts is more closely integrated into FP9. In particular, research topics should be broadened to include areas such as social work and artistic research and design.
- Better coordination between FP9 and the Structural Funds
- FP9 will focus on all forms of innovation: incremental, disruptive, breakthrough innovation
- The administrative framework should be designed to be as simple as possible.
- In the spirit of "open to the world", FP9 is intended to have an impact beyond the borders of Europe.

Alongside these recommendations, the position paper refers to the Lamy report. UAS4EUROPE supports this report and the findings it contains, e.g. the high social benefit of application-oriented research.
The public consolidation of FP9 is expected at the beginning of 2018. It is therefore important to communicate these recommendations now. It is requested that the recommendations are taken into account by the European Commission in the design phase and that the views of the innovation community are included in the draft programme for FP9.

UAS4EUROPE is a joint initiative of EURASHE, UASnet, swissuniversities, Hochschule Bayern e.V. (supported by Bavarian Research Alliance) and the Austrian Conference of Universities of Applied Sciences (FHK). UAS4EUROPE is committed to promoting universities of applied sciences (UAS) and their achievements in the field of applied research and innovation at European level and making them even more visible.

Enquiries & contact:

FHK
Kurt Koleznik
kurt.koleznik@fhk-alt.local
Tel.: 0664/4244294

UAS4EUROPE
Charlotte Geerdink
info@uas4europe.eu