Every seven years, the EU’s leaders articulate their priorities by setting the multi-annual financial framework (MFF). The EU’s budget for the coming cycle is a proposed €2 trillion for 2028-34 and the largest research and innovation programme in the world, currently called Horizon Europe, is negotiated as part of this.
These negotiations take place as Ireland chairs the Presidency of the Council of Europe, and its priorities of Competitiveness, Security and Values will be central to the direction of the next MFF. Universities like UCD play a significant role in shaping the future direction of Europe through research, innovation and education. UCD is Ireland’s leading university, by some significant distance, in drawing down Horizon Europe funding and is regularly in the top 20 in Europe. Over the coming months, we’re hosting a series of key Presidency events in partnership with Government and the EU Commission.
AI IN SCIENCE SUMMIT 2026, AIS2026
UCD is Ireland’s leader in AI research and under our strategy Breaking Boundaries, we’ve committed to bringing together our substantial base of AI researchers across all disciplines in the UCD AI Institute. On October 15 and 16, we’ll host the AI in Science Summit, AIS2026, an official Irish Presidency event and European AI Innovation Month flagship summit. The Summit will bring together scientists, industry leaders, investors and policymakers to explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on scientific discovery — and how Europe can drive this transformation with a distinctive and responsible approach.
START-UPS AND SCALE-UPS: ADVANCE CONFERENCE
For over 20 years, NovaUCD has been at the heart of Ireland’s innovation system. During that time, it supported 650 new companies, which raised over €1.5 billion in equity, supporting thousands of new jobs. It has been named by the Financial Times as one of Europe’s Leading Start-Up Hubs for the last three years in a row – the only university-based hub in Ireland on the list.
On 8 and 9 December, UCD, with Enterprise Ireland and the European Innovation Council, will host the ADVANCE conference, which will serve as a launchpad for Europe’s renewed industrial sovereignty.
The Conference will bridge the gap between global Big Tech experience and emerging Deep Tech excellence. It aims to provide a platform for founders, policymakers, large corporates, investors, universities, innovation agencies, and accelerators to examine important developments shaping Europe’s innovation future – from the European Tech Champions Initiative and the rise of university-based venture building to the increasing strategic importance of deep tech solutions for economic security, climate transitions, and technological sovereignty.
AND MANY MORE…
Around campus, we will be hosting many more engagements and events as part of our Presidency programme, including ‘Upholding Democracy: Institutional Legitimacy, Governance, and Social Cohesion’, which will take place in November. Off campus, our leaders will be contributing to the Presidency One Health and Bioeconomy Conferences.
EUROPEAN AMBITION
UCD graduates have always played significant leadership roles in Europe. Seven of Ireland’s fourteen Commissioners are alumni, as is the Commission’s first female Secretary General, Catherine Day. This tradition of leadership in Europe continues, and we meet Patricia Reilly, UCD veterinary graduate and member of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s cabinet, read here.