"Reflect on the role of universities and the promise we make to society" (Robert-Jan Smits)

"In light of the current geopolitical challenges, growing polarisation within our societies, and the rise of extreme right-wing parties, we must ask ourselves: is what we are doing truly enough? More than ever, it is essential to reflect on the role of universities and the promise we make to society. Are we genuinely equipping people with the skills they need? Are we truly focusing our efforts on transformational research?", asks Robert-Jan Smits, former DGRI of the European Commission, on 23/05/2025.

He closes the event "Unlocking Innovation: Research-Intensive Universities as Drivers of Competitiveness and Societal Impact" organised by Leru, The Guild, KU Leuven and Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium).

Mentioning the Draghi report, he indicates that the EU has an "enormous shortage of Stem concerning skills. Secondly, with regards to research, we missed out on a lot of digital platforms and technologies. Furthermore, only one-third of the knowledge generated by European universities reaches the market and is being exploited".

Also Emeritus President of TU Eindhoven, he…