Universiteit Antwerpen

EU Legislative Interests

As a university we follow mainly EU policies and initiatives in the field of education and research & technology: EU framework programmes for research and innovation, EU education programmes and horizontal issues such as data protection, ethics, animal testing, clinical trials, data management and storage. Individual researchers of research groups might however also be interested in/follow specific EU policies and initiatives as these might be directly or indirectly relevant for the scientific research they are carrying out. These policies and initiatives can be very diverse: health; IT; development cooperation; communication technology; environment; justice; economic & financial affairs; employment, social affairs, inclusion; agriculture; energy; climate; transport & mobility; maritime affairs; culture; etc.

Communication Activities

Although the main activities of a university are providing education, performing research and serving society, staff members (such as professors) of UAntwerp (either acting on behalf of their own research group or on behalf of the university as a whole) may occasionally meet members of EU institutions (in particular from the European Commission and the European Parliament) to discuss scientific and/or policy issues and provide advice in the field of research and education or in the field of an individual professor’s or research group’s expertise. UAntwerp also participates from time to time (though mostly indirectly) in formal consultations of the European Commission (e.g. relating to the new EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2021-2027, Horizon Europe). We mostly participate indirectly in these consultations through intermediary organizations (such as international university networks, Flemish inter-university bodies or Flemish R&I stakeholder platforms), although direct participations at individual level may also occur occasionally. The same holds for preparing, circulating and communicating position papers. We contributed for instance to the Flemish position paper on the Interim Evaluation of Horizon 2020 (see EC website: https://ec.europa.eu/research/evaluations). UAntwerp professors participate regularly in EC expert groups and other platforms (e.g. in scientific advisory boards of Joint Programming Initiatives or EU-funded projects). A central record of our participation in such groups does however not exist (it is very difficult to keep such a record given the high number of staff that might be involved in such activities).

Interests Represented

Does not represent commercial interests

Member Of

Antwerp University Association: www.uantwerpen.be/en/about-uantwerp/organisational-structure/antwerp-university-association/ Young European Research Universities Network (YERUN): https://yerun.eu/ Young Universities for the Future of Europe: https://www.yufe.eu/ EARMA, European Association of Research Managers and Administrators http://www.earma.org/ Vlaamse Interuniversitaire Raad: https://vlir.be/

Organisation Members

Although the University has nine faculties, several centres and institutes and eleven central departments, the University is one single legal entity. It is not a member organisation. The University of Antwerp does not operate alone. We have close ties with Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), Antwerp Management School (AMS) and other higher education institutions in Antwerp that belong to the Antwerp University Association (www.uantwerpen.be/en/about-uantwerp/organisational-structure/antwerp-university-association/).