TECH.LAND in Brussels

TECH.LAND was invited to the European Commission in Brussels to contribute to the workshop “HEIs as Ecosystem Anchors – Strengthening Regional R&I Systems for Europe’s Competitiveness and Prosperity.” The workshop was organised within the context of the European Research Area (ERA) and its ongoing efforts to strengthen the link between research, innovation, and higher education across Europe.

The event brought together representatives from the European Commission, regional and national innovation agencies, higher education institutions, and leading innovation ecosystems from across Europe. It provided a platform to exchange perspectives on how regional innovation systems can be further developed to support Europe’s long-term competitiveness and resilience.

We would like to sincerely thank the European Commission for the invitation and organisation of this important exchange, as well as all speakers, contributors, and participating ecosystems for their valuable insights and openness.

Building on these discussions, five key takeaways stood out:

1. Universities are becoming ecosystem anchors in European innovation policy

Across policy discussions, a clear shift is visible: higher education institutions are increasingly recognised not only as education and research providers, but as structural anchors of regional innovation systems—connecting talent, knowledge, entrepreneurship, industry, and public institutions.

2. Long-term impact requires system-level governance

A key policy message from the workshop was that sustainable innovation impact cannot be achieved through short-term or fragmented initiatives alone. It requires coordinated governance structures, aligned funding mechanisms, and long-term institutional commitment across all levels.

3. Alignment across stakeholders is a core challenge for regional competitiveness

While many regions in Europe have strong individual innovation actors, the main challenge lies in alignment. The effectiveness of regional innovation ecosystems depends on how well universities, industry, and public institutions are strategically coordinated around shared priorities and objectives.

4. Cross-border innovation ecosystems remain an exception in Europe

Despite increasing emphasis on European integration, most innovation ecosystems still operate within national or regional boundaries. Cross-border approaches remain relatively rare, but are gaining increasing attention as important instruments for strengthening European innovation capacity and addressing shared challenges.

5. Trust and continuity are essential enabling conditions

Beyond formal structures and funding frameworks, trust between partners emerged as a key enabling factor. Effective innovation ecosystems rely on long-term relationships that enable collaboration, shared ownership, and continuity beyond individual projects.

Final reflection

The discussions in Brussels reflect a broader evolution in European innovation policy: from a focus on individual excellence towards a more systemic understanding of competitiveness, grounded in well-connected and well-functioning regional innovation ecosystems.

In this context, higher education institutions play a central role as ecosystem anchors and enablers of long-term transformation.

For TECH.LAND, the workshop also underlined the relevance of cross-border innovation ecosystems as emerging models within Europe. While still limited in number, they offer practical examples of how collaboration across institutional and national boundaries can be structured and further developed.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the European Commission for hosting and facilitating this exchange, as well as the organisers of the workshop “HEIs as Ecosystem Anchors – Strengthening Regional R&I Systems for Europe’s Competitiveness and Prosperity”. Special thanks also go to all participating ecosystems, speakers, and partners who contributed to the discussions, including colleagues from across Finland, Spain, Croatia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

We also acknowledge the contribution of our partners and representatives from Hogeschool Saxion, Oost NL, and IHK Nord Westfalen, who supported TECH.LAND’s participation in this exchange.

Pictures: Maria Mecenero