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Can universities bridge the gaps within Europe?

A high level Science|Business dinner-debate to discuss how higher education institutions can keep people, ideas and innovation moving across the EU – now and into the 2020s. What practical steps can Europe’s leading universities take to ensure academia, industry and NGOs continue to partner and collaborate - to be world-leading in science?

Topics for discussion will include:

  • University – business collaboration: how to ensure that universities’ R&D is focussed on what industry needs.
  • How to overcome regional disparities across European countries where “innovation cold spots” exist. What role
    for the EIC?
  • How to maintain the mobility of Europe’s most talented researchers and teachers to realise the true goals of
    innovation, i.e. productivity leading to real improvements in wellbeing and living standards.
  • Many researchers are not focussed on delivering innovation per se. How do we recognise their work through greater public and policy engagement?
Speakers
Speakers
Stuart Croft
Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Warwick
David Bohmert
Secretary General, CESAER
Christian Calliess
Legal Advisor to the EPSC, European Commission
Maria de Graca Carvalho
Policy Adviser, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission; Former MEP
Helene Chraye
Head of Unit, Advanced Materials and Nanotechnologies, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
Shiva Dustdar
Head of Division, Innovation Finance Advisory, European Investment Bank (EIB)
Anders Flodstrom
Education Director, EIT Digital
Paolo Fontani
Director, Liaison Office in Brussels; Representative to the European Institutions, UNESCO
Matthew King
Head of Unit, Open Innovation, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), European Commission
Inge Knudsen
Director, Coimbra Group
David Mair
Head of Unit, Geographic Coordination, Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission
Nikki Muckle
Director of European Strategy, University of Warwick
Tapani Piha
Head of Unit, Cross-Border Healthcare & eHealth, Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), European Commission
Eric Pol
Head of Finance Mix & Fundraising Practice, Ventures4Growth
Nina Salden
Director, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Brussels office
Gernot Spiegelberg
Head of Department CT NTF, eMobility and System Architecture, Siemens AG
Luc Soete
Former Magnificus Rector, University of Maastricht
Simon Swain
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Engagement, University of Warwick
Adam Tyson
Head of Unit, Modernisation of Education II: Education policy and programme, Directorate General for Education and Culture (DG EAC), European Commission
Dirk Van Damme
Head of Division, Directorate for Education and Skills, OECD
Luk Van Langenhove
Director of the Comparative Regional Integration Studies Institute of the United Nations and Senior Advisor (European Strategy), University of Warwick
John Vanderlinden
Global Connect & Development Manager for Fabric & Home Care, Procter & Gamble

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