At a macro level, Europe is grappling with many complex and interlinked challenges — from competitiveness, economic resilience and security to digital transformation, sustainability and the need to strengthen strategic technologies. In parallel, the higher education sector is also under severe strain.
Universities play a vital role in addressing these challenges. They are powerhouses of knowledge, innovation and talent, and vibrant institutions that help shape future society. But their contribution must continue to evolve, shifting from knowledge generation alone towards co-creation, partnership and real-world impact.
This evolution is particularly important for Europe. The green and digital transitions, the need for greater security and resilience, the ambition to strengthen Europe’s technological leadership, and the drive to improve competitiveness all depend on the ability to connect excellent research with innovation, skills and deployment. These challenges are European in scale, but they are experienced locally and regionally. They require institutions that can work across borders while remaining deeply embedded in the places they serve.
This is where universities of science and technology have a distinctive role to play. They connect frontier research with engineering capability, advanced skills, entrepreneurial activity and long-term partnerships with industry, government and society. They are not only producers of knowledge; they are anchors of innovation ecosystems. By bringing together excellence, innovation and place, they can help Europe turn scientific and technological strength into economic resilience, societal progress and strategic capability.
That is why Queen’s University Belfast values its membership of CESAER. As a university rooted in Northern Ireland, but deeply connected across Europe and globally, Queen’s sees CESAER as a vital community for exchanging experience, shaping policy and working collectively to strengthen the contribution of universities of science and technology to Europe’s future. Through CESAER, we hope to learn from peers across the network, deepen strategic partnerships and contribute our own experience in regional innovation, civic engagement, technology development and industry collaboration. We want to be an active partner in helping CESAER and its Members demonstrate how excellent universities can drive innovation, resilience and societal impact across Europe.
Since its formation more than 180 years ago, Queen’s has always been much more than a knowledge institution. It is an active agent of societal and economic transformation, and its positive impact is wide-ranging.
A study by London Economics found that Queen’s contributes more than £3.35 billion each year to the UK economy. This impact is not only economic. It reflects the reach of our research, the opportunities we create, and the communities we support.
Our civic mission sits at the heart of the University’s Strategy 2030, which combines economic growth and prosperity with social change. It also reaffirms a commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and achieving net zero by 2040.
However, we are very aware that the needs of society are ever-changing, and we cannot achieve success alone. Within the higher education sector, we are seeing the emergence of fourth-generation universities, blurring the boundaries between academia, industry, government and society.
This model positions universities as central orchestrators of their regional innovation ecosystems, accelerating innovation and economic transformation while strengthening Europe’s strategic capabilities in areas such as security, resilience and advanced technologies.
At Queen’s, we have a long history of conducting innovative and world-leading research with partners in industry, government, public policy, health and social care, the arts and the voluntary sector, both locally and globally.
Through the highly ambitious Belfast Region City Deal, which will unlock £1 billion of transformative co-investment, we are working with our partners to deliver a transformational £230 million programme of innovation.
In doing so, we have created three unique innovation centres across advanced manufacturing through the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, clinical research through iREACH Health, and secure, connected digital technologies through Momentum One Zero.
The long-term economic and social benefits are significant. We are transforming our digital economy, reinvigorating our region’s industrial potential and supporting Northern Ireland’s ambitions to be a global leader. In doing so, we are also contributing to a wider European agenda: strengthening place-based innovation, building capacity in critical technologies and showing how universities can help regions become more resilient, competitive and connected.
We are all too aware that in today’s economic climate, businesses across Europe and globally need to find new ways to stay ahead of the competition. For universities of science and technology, this means ensuring that research excellence is connected to entrepreneurship, skills, investment and industry needs.
Through our commercial arm QUBIS, more than 100 spin-out companies have been launched since its creation in 1984, with more than £100 million in capital raised and more than 4,500 jobs created.
We are also proud to lead the way in Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, creating over 500 jobs and generating £50 million for the Northern Ireland economy over the past 40 years. This helps boost productivity, profitability and economic resilience for participating businesses, turning research into market-ready innovation.
While the future is uncertain, one thing remains clear: working hand in glove with industry, government, societal organisations and partner universities is vital in sparking commercial innovation and solving real-world problems. For Europe, this is not only a local or regional agenda. It is central to the continent’s ability to strengthen competitiveness, build resilience and ensure that scientific and technological excellence delivers tangible benefits for citizens.
At Queen’s University Belfast, we are committed to working with our European partners through CESAER to connect frontier research with regional resilience, shaping a stronger, more innovative and more prosperous future together.
Geert Dewulf is Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Engineering and Physical Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast
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