The Coimbra Group officially launched the Poitiers-Granada Declaration on the Collaboration between Universities and Cities on 19 June 2026, reaffirming and strengthening the commitment of Europe’s leading historic universities to work hand in hand with their local communities for the wellbeing of our societies.
The Declaration was formally launched at the University of Granada during the closing session of the Coimbra Group Annual Conference and General Assembly 2026, held under the theme “Transforming the Local and Social Environment through Research and Innovation.”
The Declaration was signed by Ludovic Thilly, Chair of the Coimbra Group Executive Board; Pedro Mercado, Rector of the University of Granada; Marifrán Carazo, Mayor of Granada; and Francisco Rodríguez, President of the Granada Provincial Council.
The signature followed a short intervention by Arno Schrooyen, Vice-President of the European Students’ Union, who shared the students’ perspective on University-City cooperation and civic engagement.
A shared commitment to societal impact
Commenting on the launch of the Declaration, Ludovic Thilly, Chair of the Coimbra Group Executive Board, said: “Universities do not exist in isolation. They are deeply embedded in the communities they serve and have a responsibility to contribute actively to their social, cultural, economic and environmental development. The Poitiers-Granada Declaration reflects ten years of learning and collaboration, while setting an ambitious framework for the decade ahead. It recognises that the most pressing challenges of our time can only be addressed through strong partnerships between universities, cities and the wider civic ecosystems in which they are rooted.”
Building on a decade of collaboration
The Poitiers-Granada Declaration builds upon the original Poitiers Declaration on the Collaboration between Coimbra Group Universities and Municipalities, adopted in June 2016 during the Coimbra Group Annual Conference hosted by the University of Poitiers.
Over the past decade, the original Declaration has become a recognised framework for structured collaboration between universities and their local socio-economic environments. It has been signed byRectors and Mayors across 21 European countries and was highlighted by the European Commission in its 2020 publication Towards a 2030 Vision on the Future of Universities in Europe as an inspiring example of how universities can formalise their role within local research and innovation ecosystems.
Since 2016, cooperation between universities and cities has expanded considerably in scope and ambition. Alongside education, research and innovation, partnerships increasingly address challenges such as sustainability and climate action, democratic participation, digital transformation, equal opportunities, inclusion, social cohesion and territorial development.
Recognising these developments, the Coimbra Group initiated a revision process in 2025, led by its Executive Board and Rectors’ Advisory Group and carried out in close consultation with the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of its twelve Working Groups.
A renewed vision for Universities and Cities
The Poitiers-Granada Declaration reaffirms the central role that universities and cities play in each other’s development while proposing an updated and more inclusive framework for collaboration.
Reflecting the diversity of contexts across the Coimbra Group, the Declaration adopts a broader understanding of “Cities”, defining them as the wider human, civic and social ecosystems in which universities are rooted and operate, irrespective of administrative boundaries.
The Declaration is intended to serve as an inspirational and flexible framework, encouraging structured engagement while respecting local realities and priorities. It focuses on future commitments and collective progress rather than performance measurement, offering guidance across a broad range of cooperation themes relevant to both universities and civic partners.
Particular attention has been given to ensuring complementarity with the Durham Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainability, adopted in March 2025 and signed by the Rectors of all 42 Coimbra Group member universities.
An open process
The launch of the Poitiers-Granada Declaration marks the beginning of a new phase of collaboration across the Coimbra Group network. The signature process will remain open after the Annual Conference, and additional signatories from Coimbra Group universities and their respective Cities will be announced in due course.
Through this renewed commitment, the Coimbra Group seeks to further strengthen the contribution of universities to inclusive, innovative and sustainable local development across Europe.
Poitiers Declaration
The Poitiers Declaration is a document defining a collaborative framework for Coimbra Group Universities and the Municipalities in which they are situated, including a set of objectives and accompanying initiatives to be pursued. The Poitiers Declaration was initiated in June 2016 in collaboration between Alain Claeys, Mayor of Poitiers and the Rector of the University of Poitiers, Yves Jean. The Declaration reaffirms the central role that Universities play in the development of Cities, with Cities providing a fundamental framework, functioning as a catalyst for the development of Universities.
Below are the full text of the Poitiers Declaration and the list of signatories as of 27 October 2022:
Poitiers Declaration Signatories
Coimbra Group High-Level Workshop
“The role of universities as driving forces for change in regions and cities”
Brussels, 8 October 2019
This workshop explored the role of universities in innovation ecosystems. It outlined successful examples of university-city partnerships with the aim to engage in a dialogue with policy makers and other relevant stakeholders on how to improve synergies to foster the social, cultural and economic wealth of regions and cities. More specifically, the debate focused on Pillar 3 of Horizon Europe and synergies between funding schemes at different levels, the characteristics of effective innovation ecosystems, and how the interplay among the various actors, in particular universities and municipalities, can be improved.
The event celebrated and reiterated the collaboration agreement stated in the Poitiers Declaration. The Poitiers Declaration is a document defining a collaborative framework for Coimbra Group Universities and the Municipalities in which they are situated, including a set of objectives and accompanying initiatives to be pursued. It was initiated in June 2016 in collaboration between Alain Claeys, Mayor of Poitiers and the Rector of the University of Poitiers, Yves Jean. The Declaration reaffirms the central role that Universities play in the development of Cities, with Cities providing a fundamental framework, functioning as a catalyst for the development of Universities. This is especially the case for Coimbra Group Universities, which, being located in small or medium-sized cities, have a symbiotic relationship with their surrounding ecosystem, thus creating dynamics affecting socio-economic development, transfer of knowledge and innovation, urban policy and inclusion.
The workshop saw the participation of rectors and senior management staff from higher education institutions, mayors and representatives from municipalities, regional and city representations, industry, civil society and EU institutions.
The event’s programme and presentations are available below.
Workshop Presentations
The Coimbra Group and the Poitiers Declaration
Prof. Ludovic Thilly, University of Poitiers, Chair of the Executive Board of the Coimbra
Group
PoitiersDeclarationWorkshop -THILLY
Productive co-operation between university and city in Turku
Prof. Jukka Kola, Rector, University of Turku
Productive cooperation univ and city in Turku – KOLA
NUI Galway and the city of Galway – a values driven collaboration
Prof. Becky Whay, Vice President International, NUI Galway
NUI Galway and city of Galway – values driven collaboration – WHAY
Leiden: a “city lab” – cooperation between higher education and society
Lara Ummels, Liaison Officer, Leiden Science City
Leiden a city lab – cooperation between HE and society – UMMELS
Prevention of criminal behavior in youth – a Leiden case
Hanna Swaab, Professor, Leiden University
Prevention criminal behaviour in youth Leiden – SWAAB
Innovative partnerships between municipalities and universities: the case of the
Foundation for Urban Innovation in the city of Bologna
Prof. Mirko Degli Esposti, Deputy Rector, University of Bologna
Foundation for Urban Innovation in city of Bologna – DEGLI ESPOSTI
Cracow – Science – Industry. Links for effective economy
Radosław Rudź, Head of Technology Transfer and Cooperation with Economy Team,
Jagiellonian University in Krakow
Cracow Science Industry – RUDZ
Smart Specialisation and the future Cohesion Policy
Katja Reppel, Deputy Head of Unit, DG Regional and Urban Policy, European CommissionSmart Specialisation and future Cohesion Policy – REPPEL
Cooperation between the University and the City of Groningen
Maarten Eisema, EU Liaison Officer, University of Groningen
University and City of Groningen joint challenges and goals – EISEMA
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Launch of the Poitiers Declaration
9 June 2016
The Coimbra Group annual conference on 9 June 2016 highlighted cooperation initiatives in collaboration between CG Universities and their local socio-economic environment, including cities and municipalities in which the CG universities are present and influential.
The meeting between CG Rectors and Mayors, at Poitiers City Hall in the morning of the same day discussed the “Poitiers Declaration” and participating Rectors and Mayors signed the Declaration.
Rectors & City Mayors Meeting
- Mustapha El Belgsir, Conseiller municipal chargé des relations internationales et coopération décentralisée – Ville de Poitiers
- Yves Jean, Président de l’Université de Poitiers
- Riitta Pyykkö, Vice-Rector of the Turun Yliopisto University of Turku
- Rosa Reis Marques, City Of Coimbra
- João Gabriel Silva, Rector of the University of Coimbra
Knowledge & Culture for all Citizens, Modernization of Higher Education
- Yves Jean, Président de l’Université de Poitiers
- Elisabeth Morin-Chartier, Questeur – Députée européenne – Présidente de l’European Union of Women
- Adam Tyson, European Commission
Integration of Campuses, Heritage and Development Policy
- Roger Belot, Président de “Fondation Poitiers Université”
- Marco Morandotti, Director of the Interdepartmental Centre for the Conservation of the Historical Heritage of the University of Pavia
Panel Discussion
- Isabelle Lamothe, Vice-présidente de l’Université de Poitiers chargée de la culture
- Fabio Rugge, Rector of the University of Pavia
- Kay Svensson, Deputy University Director – International, University of Uppsala
- Esther von Richthofen, Coordinator for European University Partnerships University Networks COIMBRA and EUA – University of Göttingen