Applied Sciences at the Crossroads: Polytechnics, Place-Based Innovation, and Europe's Competitiveness Future

The Insider, Season 2, Episode 9

“Applied Sciences at the Crossroads: Polytechnics, Place-Based Innovation, and Europe's Competitiveness Future”

Europe is entering a new phase in how it thinks about research, innovation and competitiveness.

New instruments are being designed, new priorities are emerging, and the pressure to deliver impact is stronger than ever.

But, as these discussions unfold, one question remains largely in the background: What place is left for the institutions that already sit closest to application, skills and regional innovation?

In this episode of The Insider, host Ricardo Miguéis speaks with John Edwards (Secretary General of EURASHE) to explore the role of applied sciences universities, polytechnics and university colleges in Europe’s evolving R&I landscape.

Drawing on decades of experience at the intersection of higher education and policy, John reflects on how this part of the system has developed, how it is positioned in Brussels today, and why its contribution is often underestimated in debates that tend to focus on research-intensive universities and large industry.

Part 1 - The role of applied sciences in Europe's innovation system

The conversation begins with a closer look at what applied higher education institutions actually are, and what distinguishes them.

Far from being a secondary layer of the system, these institutions play a specific role: they connect education, applied research, innovation and service to society, often within tightly embedded regional ecosystems.

John reflects on the evolution of this sector across Europe, the tensions around identity and recognition, and the risks that come with trying to fit a diverse landscape into a single model of “excellence”.

A key thread running through this part of the discussion is the idea of the four missions of higher education; and the challenge of making them work together in practice, in a policy environment where funding and instruments are still largely fragmented.

Part 2 - What's at stake in FP10, ECF and the future of place-based innovation

The second part of the episode moves into the current policy moment. As negotiations around FP10 and the European Competitiveness Fund progress, the design choices being made now will shape who participates in Europe’s R&I system, and on what terms.

The discussion explores concerns around the declining visibility of Smart Specialisation and the potential weakening of the regional dimension in the next Multiannual Financial Framework, as well as the implications of new governance models for applied HEIs.

John also reflects on EURASHE’s position in the broader debate on FP10 and ECF, including the importance of maintaining a system that recognises different institutional roles rather than converging towards a single model.

At its core, the episode raises a simple but critical question:

If Europe wants to strengthen its competitiveness, is it making full use of the institutions that are already closest to delivering it?

Listen to Episode 9: “Applied Sciences at the Crossroads: Polytechnics, Place-Based Innovation, and Europe's Competitiveness Future” on The Insider.