In his intervention, Mattias underscored that competition strengthens research only when it is grounded in trust and supported by frameworks that value more than narrow, metric-driven outputs. Political choices since the 1980s and 1990s have shaped a hyper-competitive research landscape in Europe — one that rewards individual optimisation over team science and prioritises outputs over meaningful outcomes. This monoculture, he argued, holds Europe back.
As another participant put it: "I should never again have to choose between what is good for science versus what is good for my career".
Mattias emphasised that if Europe aims to lead globally in areas such as AI, quantum, biotech, and green technologies, it must broaden what it values in research and innovation. Mentoring, team science, research infrastructures, knowledge exchange, and partnership engagements are not peripheral or ‘soft’ elements — they are strategic capabilities that underpin excellence and drive societal impact. Recognising and rewarding these contributions is essential to sustaining high-quality, cutting-edge research.
Mattias highlighted the need for coordinated action at two levels. Political leadership must reshape the frameworks, incentives, and assessment systems that guide research and innovation. At the same time, universities must continue to lead by example. He pointed to ongoing work across CESAER Members, including the case studies published last year showcasing concrete improvements in research career structures and responsible practices. A new CESAER report — featuring case studies and experiences from universities implementing COARA (Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment) — will be published early next year.
He stressed three crucial shifts for Europe’s research future. First, assessment systems must reflect how excellence in modern science and technology is actually produced. Secondly, diversity of contributions must be enabled and recognised, because cutting-edge research is a team effort. Thirdly, Europe must rebuild trust — in researchers, institutions, and the systems shaping their work.
Europe’s competitive strength, he reaffirmed, comes from openness. Closing down would weaken Europe; the path forward is trusted collaboration, not less collaboration. Funding and assessment systems should treat contributions to teams, infrastructures, and partnerships as integral to competitiveness — rewarding collaboration as competitive excellence.
These were Mattias’s key messages during the session 'Balancing competition with collaboration' as part of the EU high-level conference on reforming research assessment organised by Aalborg University in Copenhagen from 3 to 4 December 2025, underlining that Europe’s ability to advance frontier science and strategic technologies depends on shifting towards research systems that value and reward collaboration, diversity of contributions, and trust at every level.
For more information, please contact the Secretariat.
Photo above is from the conference with Mattias Björnmalm (left) together with David Budtz Pedersen (right) from Aalborg University and who was the Chair of the conference.
Photo below is from the panel session.
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