Strengthening Peripheral Voices of Young Universities in the European Union

With support from a YERUN Mobility Award for early-career researchers, Karl recently took part in the YERUN 10-Year Anniversary Conference in Brussels, where young universities, EU stakeholders gathered to discuss Europe’s research future. Key conversations focused on funding, collaboration, and the leadership needed to navigate transitions like digitalisation, sustainability, and spatial inequality—issues central to economic geography. The event highlighted how young research universities can drive inclusive innovation through regional knowledge, institutional diversity, and cross-border collaboration. For early-career researchers like Karl, it was not just a recognition of existing work but a strong call to shape a more resilient and equitable European Research Area. Initiatives like YERUN CONNECT offer vital platforms to co-develop impactful, interdisciplinary research across Europe.