Speaking at the conference 'From Widening to Transformation: European Universities as Engines of Inclusion and Innovation' in Brussels on 17–18 June, CESAER Secretary General Mattias Björnmalm highlighted the need to move beyond participation metrics and focus on lasting institutional transformation, stronger research and innovation capabilities, and a more integrated European Research Area.
On 17–18 June 2026, CESAER participated in the conference From Widening to Transformation: European Universities as Engines of Inclusion and Innovation, held in Brussels and organised within the Unite! Widening initiative. The event brought together university leaders, policymakers and experts to discuss how European universities can strengthen inclusion, innovation and excellence across the European Research Area.
Mattias Björnmalm, Secretary General of CESAER, joined the roundtable discussion Widening in Practice: Successes, Challenges and Lessons for European Universities alongside rectors and university leaders from across Europe. The discussion focused on the long-term impact of widening measures, lessons learned from implementation and the future direction of European research and innovation policy.
During the discussion, Björnmalm argued that the success of widening initiatives should not be measured primarily by activities undertaken during a project, but by the lasting changes that remain after funding ends.
"The real test is what remains after the project. Have we built stronger research support, better talent pathways, more ambitious partnerships, greater innovation capacity and stronger institutions? That is what determines whether widening has led to transformation."
Drawing on examples from across Europe and the CESAER membership, he emphasised that the most successful initiatives are those that build durable capability and enable institutions to move from participation to excellence, and from excellence to impact.
Björnmalm also stressed that widening instruments alone cannot address all underlying structural disparities across Europe. Lasting progress requires a broader approach that combines European funding, national investment and institutional reform.
"Countries that have made the greatest progress have typically combined participation in European programmes with sustained national investment in research and innovation, strategic use of cohesion funding and reforms that strengthen research and higher education systems."
In this context, he welcomed the growing emphasis on the long-standing target of investing at least 3% of GDP in research and development and noted the importance of ensuring that commitments made at national level are translated into action.
The discussion also examined Europe's persistent innovation gap. Björnmalm argued that while investment remains essential, the most significant obstacle is fragmentation.
"Europe already has excellent researchers, universities, infrastructures and companies. Too often, however, they are connected through a patchwork of rules, incentives and funding streams that slow cooperation, innovation and scale-up."
From the perspective of universities of science and technology, he noted that the challenge is not only to invest more, but also to create stronger connections between research, education and innovation, and between local, national and European ecosystems.
A key part of the solution, he argued, is the rapid implementation of the fifth freedom to strengthen the free circulation of knowledge, talent, technology and innovation across Europe.
Looking ahead to the next European programming period, Björnmalm called for a shift from widening as participation towards widening as transformation.
"Widening should build excellence. Excellence should build capability. And capability should help Europe turn knowledge into leadership in advanced science and technology."
The conference formed part of wider discussions on the future of widening measures, European University Alliances and the role of universities in strengthening Europe's competitiveness, resilience and innovation capacity.
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