École Polytechnique’s presidency of the alliance spurs a unanimous commitment to accelerate sustainable development
13 June 2023 | Brussels/Paris – EuroTech Universities Alliance president since June 2022, Éric Labaye, the Chairman and President of École Polytechnique and of the Institut Polytechnique de Paris, welcomed the presidents of the EuroTech partner institutions at École Polytechnique for their annual meeting on 7 June 2023.
During his mandate as EuroTech president, Éric Labaye has made the common commitment to sustainability a priority. Over the past year, the partner universities have reinforced their collaboration to establish a joint research agenda for sustainability, to further integrate sustainability into their teaching curricula, and to harness innovation for sustainable development. Each institution also pursues its plan to achieve a green campus.
On 28 March 2023, the symposium “EuroTech Universities: An alliance working for global sustainability” brought together academic staff, students, operational directors, and the leadership of the six EuroTech partner universities at École Polytechnique. As a direct outcome of the meeting, the presidents of EuroTech’s member institutions now publish a seven-point “Declaration for Sustainability”, to drive the EuroTech Universities’ shift towards sustainability.
For Eric Labaye, “With this declaration, we confirm our joint efforts to tackle the current challenges faced by society, science, and technology and to develop solutions to reach sustainable development. To succeed, we are increasing and intensifying our collaboration within EuroTech, in all our areas of activity: research, initial and life-long education, and innovation.”
The EuroTech Universities of Science and Technology
- Are committed to sustainable development, embodied by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations adopted in 2015 as the prime challenge for humanity today.
- Will integrate the challenges posed by sustainable development in initial education and life-long training as a principal responsibility to train students and professionals to understand and solve key scientific, technological, and societal challenges.
- Commit to advancing the frontiers of knowledge, technology, and innovation as essential tools for transformation towards absolute sustainability and will develop original technological solutions needed to address the world’s acute problems.
- Recognize that technological development and scale-up must be complemented by behavioural changes to ensure responsible consumption, to avoid strain on the environment, and to reach a circular economy.
- Are Living Labs committed to implementing sustainable solutions across their campuses, training, research, and innovation activities.
- Commit to mobilizing their entire community as drivers of transformation through a collaborative, participative, inclusive and transparent approach.
- Will also activate their global partner network to reach societal wellbeing and global sustainability.
Within the EuroTech Universities Alliance, six leading European universities of science and technology join their forces to elaborate ambitious joint research projects on a European scale in priority areas such as artificial intelligence, sustainable development, health, and bio-engineering. The six partner institutions are École Polytechnique, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), the Technical University of Munich (TUM), and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.
The strategic alliance bundles the member universities’ expertise in research and education for the construction of a strong, sustainable, sovereign, and resilient Europe. Éric Labaye has been invested with the EuroTech Universities Alliance presidency in June 2022 for a one-year period. The presidency rotates among the partner institutions’ presidents every twelve months.
Press Contact
Anita Schneider
Communications Manager
EuroTech Universities Alliance
Phone: +32 471 221 117
E-mail: [email protected]
About École Polytechnique
École Polytechnique, also known as L’X, is the leading French institution combining top-level research, academics, and innovation at the cutting-edge of science and technology. Its various undergraduate and graduate-level programs – Bachelor of Science, Ingénieur Polytechnicien (Master’s level program), Master’s, and PhD – are highly selective and promote a culture of excellence with a strong emphasis on science, anchored in humanist traditions. As a widely internationalized university, École polytechnique offers a variety of international programs and attracts a growing number of foreign students and researchers from around the globe (currently 41% of students and 40% of faculty members). École polytechnique offers an exceptional education to prepare bright men and women to excel in top-level key positions and lead complex and innovative projects which meet the challenges of 21st century society, all while maintaining a keen sense of their civil and social responsibilities. With its 23 laboratories, 22 of which are joint research units with the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), École polytechnique Research Center explores the frontiers of interdisciplinary knowledge to provide major contributions to science, technology, and society. École polytechnique is a founding member of Institut Polytechnique de Paris. www.polytechnique.edu
About EuroTech Universities Alliance
The EuroTech Universities Alliance is a strategic partnership of leading European universities of science and technology joining forces to build a strong, sustainable, sovereign, and resilient Europe. The partners bring their excellence in research and education, their active engagement in vibrant eco-systems and service to society. Together, they join forces to accelerate their research in high-tech focus areas and advocate for change, through dedicated partners and a strong presence in Brussels. Based on the EuroTech values, the partners aspire to a new level of cooperation by bringing together their inclusive, diverse, and sustainable campuses. The EuroTech Universities create a unique environment for international talents to lead a new generation of change agents in research, entrepreneurship, industry, and society. www.eurotech-universities.eu
