Scotland Europa Member’s Meeting
St Andrews was pleased to host Scotland Europa’s 2023 Member’s Meeting at Eden Campus in October. Scotland Europa is a membership organisation which provides policy advice, project support and networking opportunities to its members, who include universities, research bodies, business groups, government and non-profit organisations interested in developing a strong presence and building partnerships in Europe.
Before the start of the meeting, members enjoyed a tour of the University’s Eden Campus, which showcases how innovators work with researchers and partners to develop new, cutting-edge technology and sustainable energy solutions. Members enjoyed a tour of the facilities, including the rapid protoyping centre, dry laboratories, 3D modelling facility, hydrogen fuel cell production facilities and workshops. After donning hard hats and reflective gilets, they then toured the biomass plant, which provides heating to University buildings on the Guardbridge site and in St Andrews. They were also able to admire the spectacular view across the Estuary and gaze into the furnace at the heart of the plant.
Following lunch and welcome remarks from Mr Derek Watson MBE, Quaestor and Factor of the University, the meeting got underway; this meeting’s theme was ‘Keeping Scotland’s Engagement Fit for the Future’. The meeting was buoyed by the recent announcement that the UK will enter the Horizon Europe research funding programme from 2024, which will open up research and technology opportunities with partners in the European Union, Norway, New Zealand and Israel. Building on this, the Scotland Europa panels discussed European engagement strategies and EU-Scottish relations. The meeting concluded with a virtual address from Christina McKelvie MSP, Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, who was on her first official visit to the EU Parliament in Strasbourg.
Colleagues from Scotland Europa, Valentine Willmann and James Sharples, also kindly stayed in St Andrews to hold a Horizon Europe capacity building session the following day. The session provided information for academic colleagues interested in applying for Horizon Europe funding and identifying relevant collaborators and networks within Europe.
If you would like to find out more information about the University’s membership of Scotland Europa, please contact the Global Office at [email protected].