Lusófona University makes its mark in Paris

On 5 May 2025, Universidade Lusófona took part in one of the most relevant recent gatherings on the future of higher education in Europe, at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron. Professor Bragança de Miranda was among the select group of participants at the high-level event “The Future of European University Alliances: Progress and Developments”, held at the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris.

With representatives from 65 European universities in attendance, the event underscored the growing importance of transnational university alliances such as FilmEU, in which Universidade Lusófona plays a leading role. Participants included figures like 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), further reinforcing the initiative’s European and collaborative scope.

During the closing session, speeches by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron set the political and strategic tone for the event. Von der Leyen stated clearly that Europe has made its choice: to place science and technology at the heart of the European economy, make innovation a force for humanity, attract global talent, and position universities as fundamental pillars of society. In this context, she announced an investment of €500 million for the 2025–2027 period to attract researchers to Europe, alongside the creation of a seven-year super fellowship under the European Research Council to support top scientists in long-term projects.

President Macron, the key promoter of the European Universities initiative, reinforced his vision by stating that “there can be no lasting democracy without free and open science”, highlighting the urgency of protecting and valuing scientific research in an increasingly challenging global context. He also pointed out France’s efforts to welcome foreign researchers—particularly from the US—whose work in critical areas like climate change has been under threat, and announced the expansion of this strategy across Europe under the slogan “Choose Europe for Science”.

The day’s agenda also included a high-level workshop at the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, bringing together policymakers, academics, and experts to explore the future of European university alliances. Discussions centred on topics such as talent attraction, aligning long-term strategic vision with short-term goals, and the need to move beyond project-based funding towards more sustainable and structural investment models.

Universidade Lusófona’s participation in this strategic forum reaffirms its active role in the European higher education landscape and its clear commitment to an increasingly international, collaborative, and future-oriented university. As part of the FilmEU alliance, with a strong focus on the arts, film, and media, Lusófona continues to align itself with European policies on innovation, science, and education at a decisive moment for consolidating the European Higher Education Area.