Dag Rune Olsen

Executive vice president, deputy minister, members of the European Parliament, guests, dear YERUN-friend and colleagues. Dear friend of knowledge.

Town and gown. That is a phrase that historically has been used to describe the relationship between academia, i.e. the gown, and the town where the university was located. And it was a phrase that indicated a rather challenging relationship between the city and the academic community. As such, the phrase “Town and gown” does NOT describe how young research universities see them selves in society, in a region.

Our universities were often founded as a consequence of regional and societal needs. E.g. access to higher education, driving regional growth, modernization and innovation. These universities were often among the latest to be founded, but they were founded with a purpose and clear added value. This origin gives young universities a distinct civic mission, rooted in their communities but directed towards global challenges and with international collaborations stiving for the highest quality. YERUN universities actively construct their reputations through contemporary excellence. As such, we define what “young” truly means in higher education today. It is not solely about age, but also about academic mentality.

And YERUN-universities are more relevant than ever. Still, access to higher education varies across our societies. Higher education is related to higher accumulated income and physical and mental health. A well educated population is the best defense for our democracies.  We cannot take a robust and stable democracy for granted. Therefore, it is vital that we as research institutions also contribute with knowledge about what it in a society that might destabilize democracies.  

The degree of education in a population is also related to value creation. And when the Draghi-report concludes that: “Europe cannot afford to remain stuck in the middle technologies and industries of the previous century” and urges us to “close the innovation gap”, well then it is the collaboration between academic institutions and the private sector that is such a critical part to the solution.

Academic freedom is something we enjoy. But far more importantly, academic freedom is a prerequisite for the robust knowledge creation a society over time needs. We therefore salute the clear stand president von der Leyen and president Macron took at Sorbonne only weeks ago. We fully support the idea that competitiveness will rely on the collaboration between the industries and academic partners. Research of high quality and relevance for society, growth and competitiveness rely on long-term investments. It was therefore reassuring to hear President von der Leyen acknowledging the Horizon Europe program during her speech at the Annual EU Budget Conference, and that she proclaimed that that the program: “will stay as a self-standing program. It is an outstanding brand – the most renowned research program worldwide”.

YERUN has over the years taken a leading role in open science. Geopolitics is for sure changing. We need to uphold our values as we navigate through the new geopolitical landscape.     

Because we can achieve very little on our own. Collaboration brings a diversity of perspectives and ideas together, we can challenge each other’s ideas and bring new one’s forward. This is not limited to within the academic environment. It is also valid across sectors, private and public.

That is our understanding of what “town and gown” is and should be all about.