Academic cooperation
Introduction
In 2020, the European Commission reaffirmed in a communication its ambition to establish a European Education Area by 2025. Universities play a key role in European integration because they help remove borders in the pursuit of knowledge while building Europe’s future through technological and social innovation.
At the level of cross-border regions, university cooperation is particularly well-developed and serves as a model. It constitutes a major lever for a stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive Europe, shaping European identity. Cross-border university cooperation has this particularly key role of creating synergies between research, innovation, and education, combining excellence and territorial cohesion. It can also facilitate the implementation of joint smart specialization strategies on both sides of the border.