Metropolia University of Applied Sciences: EU messages

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, in cooperation with its partners, contributes to a more competitive Europe through high-quality and impactful research, education and innovation.

Through European and international cooperation and by providing the skills and expertise that society needs, we create sustainable solutions to the challenges of the future.

We welcome the Commission’s proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) programme for the period 2028−2034 and outline below our recommendations for Horizon Europe, European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), Erasmus+ programme and National and Regional Partnership plans (NRPPs).

1. Applied research and innovation should remain at the heart of Horizon Europe

We welcome the proposal to double the budget of the next framework programme and maintain it as a stand-alone and excellence-based programme. We underline the need to keep the applied research and innovation at the strong focus of Pillar II − Competitiveness and Society – and to uphold Pillar IV support for European University Alliances.

The quadruple-helix approach should be reinforced within the Horizon Europe collaborative projects (Pillar II).

Partners such as universities of applied sciences, cities and SMEs greatly are essential contributors to the societal and regional impact of the collaborative R&I projects.

European University alliances should be recognized under Pillar IV as strategic drivers to the ERA objectives, by fostering research careers and researcher mobility, enhancing knowledge valorisation capacities and reinforcing EU R&I ecosystems.

• Example: Metropolia together with partners aims to evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of novel interventions for children, adolescents and young Adults with palliative and end-of-life care needs in different healthcare systems across Europe
• Example: Metropolia with partners develops sustainable mobility across Europe
• Example: Metropolia UAS supports the creation of energy positive urban districts with its ecosystem partners

2. Leverage the European Competitiveness Fund with a strong focus on skills development

We welcome the ECF’s key ambition to translate R&I results into Europe’s competitiveness in emerging technologies and industrial sectors. The ECF work programmes should recognize start-ups and scale-ups alongside large industrial actors and see both market-driven innovation and non-technological innovation equally important for European competitiveness. To foster synergies between Horizon Europe and ECF a balanced representation of academia and industry is required for drafting and selecting call topics in the ECF work programmes.

We welcome the ECF’s emphasis on skills development as an essential response to address labour shortages in strategic key sectors impacted by the green and digital transition. We recommend that future ECF funding opportunities be designed with strong synergies with Erasmus+, European Social Fund, and the Pact of Skills. European University alliances are well aligned to tap into the skills dimension of the ECF, boosting their collaboration with regional employers.

• Example: Metropolia UAS coordinates U!nnovate project that is an important boost to enhance the innovation capacity and entrepreneurial mindset of U!REKA universities and foster collaboration between academia, industry and regional authorities.
• Example: Metropolia UAS together with its partners and societal actors create new education and training on the bases of societal needs to contribute to the goal of low carbon energy systems
• Example: Metropolia UAS develops new education for sustainable packaging based on close regional and inter-regional multi-partner collaboration in a Horizon Europe project Engage4BIO

3. Ensure long-term funding for European University Alliances, and maintain strong support for mobility, collaboration and transnational study programs through Erasmus+

We welcome the proposed EUR 40.8 billion for the 2028-2034 funding period. This is a decisive investment in competitiveness, skills development, inclusion, European identity and resilience. At least 35% of the education & training budget should be allocated to higher education and 70% to mobility across sectors.

The second pillar of Erasmus+ (2028-2034) should continue to support the Erasmus+ KA2 cooperation projects, as both nationally and centrally managed Erasmus+ partnerships have been successful in boosting skills development and innovation capacity in collaboration with labour market actors across Europe.

The planned increase in the number of transnational joint study programmes is welcome, and we advocate ensuring sufficient funding for their implementation. We urge the use of joint study programs to pilot the European Degree Label further.

We call for long-term, holistic, non-directional, and flexible funding mechanism for the European University Alliance. Based on our experience as a coordinator of U!REKA European University, we see it very important for systematic development to ensure that all students, staff and key external stakeholders can truly benefit from the joint activities and thus advocate for solid 7-year funding available in the next Erasmus+ programme.

• Example: U!REKA SHIFT builds an inclusive and connected campus offering joint education, research and innovation to support the European path to climate neutrality
• Example: Metropolia with partners enhance the quality of international learning experiences by developing an inclusive comprehensive approach to internationalisation which includes virtual and blended international learning opportunities
• Example: Metropolia coordinates a project that will design, pilot, and implement the first of its kind, European-wide competence-based open badge ecosystem targeted at the European game industry and game education

4. Strengthen research & innovation ecosystems through the National and Regional Partnership Plans

We welcome the introduction of the NRPPs to align EU, national and regional priorities. To ensure the maximum impact cohesion funding must remain accessible to the more developed metropolitan regions like Helsinki-Uusimaa, which drive national and European competitiveness, green & digital transition, innovation, skills development, social inclusion and resilience. Investments in advanced innovation ecosystems deliver scale, spillover effects, and faster returns.

NRP plans should provide complementary funding to the European University Alliances and link the collaborative cross-border research and innovation activities to local and regional skills development. This is how NRPPs can further contribute to addressing labour shortages through reskilling and upskilling according to market needs.

Interreg programmes must remain a strong tool for cross-border and interregional collaboration to empower regional innovation ecosystems and foster cross-border solidarity and resilience, given Europe’s geopolitical landscape.

Higher education institutions and local and regional authorities must have a formal role in NRPP preparation, implementation, and monitoring structures. This ensures that plan reflects territorial needs and can deliver on EU-level targets for research and innovation and skills, education and resilience.

• Example: Metropolia and partners are creating a business ecosystem in the capital region that advances, and utilizes, RDI activities in the food services and restaurants
• Example: Metropolia coordinates a project that aims to develop robotics solutions for urban environments to address the challenges of mobility, environment, and climate change in cities
• Example: Metropolia together with partners in Central Baltic countries jointly promote Cycling for Climate in an Interreg project

Mona Roman
Research Director, EU advocacy and international activities
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
+ 358 40 555 1044
mona.roman [at] metropolia.fi (mona[dot]roman[at]metropolia[dot]fi)