The higher education institutions in Turku, together with other Finnish and Nordic partners in Brussels, organised a joint event The Role of Higher Education Institutions in Ensuring the EU's Competitiveness and Resilience. The event took place in Brussels during the Research and Innovation Week launched by the European Commission.
University of Turku, Åbo Akademi University, Turku University of Applied Sciences and Novia University of Applied Sciences are now collaborating more closely in EU advocacy. The aim is to raise awareness of the higher education institutions’ top research and expertise areas within the European Union and promote their active role in key research networks and decision-making processes.
University of Turku has been accepted as a member of an advisory group representing civil society and academia in a new, multi-stakeholder platform Digital for Development (D4D) Hub. The D4D Hub promotes collaboration between the European Union and its global partners for inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.
The purpose of the visit was to maintain and strengthen the visibility and cooperation of the Turku Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences with relevant EU actors in Brussels. Furthermore, the goal was to ensure that the voices of the higher education institutions are being heard in the decision-making processes and that necessary support from the EU is received in the future.
Europe specialisation studies provide a diverse, multi-disciplinary study programme that examines Europe as a whole from the perspective of area and institutions, with focus on a wide and thorough understanding of Europe as an area and phenomenon.
Finland's role in the development Europe is at the forefront in the panel discussions organised by the University of Turku and its partners in the Turku Europe Forum. The first day of the Forum on Wednesday, 24 August, focuses on science, and the panellists address numerous questions, such as whether Finland needs its own drug development, what kind of change are Europeans facing in energy production and consumption, where are the borders of Europe, and what is the state of the Archipelago Sea.
The University of Turku, in collaboration with Novartis Finland Oy, Business Finland, the University of Eastern Finland, and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, organises a Smart Health for Europe seminar at Musiikkitalo on October 7, 2019. The seminar explores future health ecosystems and networks with Smart Health stakeholders from start-ups to healthcare decision makers, investors and more. The Finnish EU Presidency in 2019 provides a great opportunity to discuss the combination of legislation, health sector growth, research and development, and start-ups.