FilmEU participates in Strategic Meeting on the Future of European Universities in Paris

On May 5, 2025, FilmEU took part in Paris in significant discussions on the future of higher education in Europe, following a formal invitation from President Emmanuel Macron. Representing FilmEU were Professor José Bragança de Miranda (Lusófona Rector), David Smith, President of IADT - Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology (Ireland), and Simon van Damme, President of Luca School of Arts (Belgium).

Professor Bragança de Miranda joined a select group of academic leaders at the high-level meeting titled “The Future of European Universities Alliances: Progress and Developments”, held at the renowned University of the Sorbonne in Paris.

With representatives from 65 European universities in attendance, the event underscored the growing importance of transnational university alliances such as FilmEU, reflecting the pan-European scope and collaborative spirit of the initiative.

The closing session was marked by two high-profile addresses delivered by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President Emmanuel Macron. President von der Leyen sent a strong and unequivocal message: Europe has made its choice—to place science and technology at the heart of its economy, to let innovation serve humanity, to welcome global talent, and to make universities pillars of society. In this context, she announced a €500 million funding package for the 2025–2027 period aimed at attracting researchers to Europe, as well as the launch of a seven-year “super grant” under the European Research Council to provide long-term support for the most outstanding scientists.

President Macron, the driving force behind the European Universities initiative, reinforced this vision, stating that “there can be no lasting democracy without free and open science.” He highlighted France’s existing efforts to welcome international researchers—particularly American academics whose work in fields like climate science faces growing threats—and announced the expansion of these measures at a European level under the banner “Choose Europe for Science.”