Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research (CESAER)

Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research (CESAER)
Name	Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research
Abbr	CESAER
Formation	1990
Type	Association of universities
Headquarters	Leuven, Belgium
Region served	Europe
Membership	Technical universities
Leader title	President

Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research (CESAER) The Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research is a European association linking leading technical universities and engineering faculties across Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and other countries, facilitating collaboration among institutions such as KU Leuven, TU Delft, ETH Zurich and Politecnico di Milano. It promotes coordinated responses to initiatives from bodies like the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the European Research Council while engaging with networks including EUA, EIT, and UNESCO.

History

CESAER was established in the context of post-Cold War European integration and the expansion of networks such as Erasmus, CERN, and ESA to address priorities raised at forums like the Bologna Declaration and the Lisbon Strategy. Early founding members included prominent institutions such as RWTH Aachen and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, aligning with pan-European projects funded by frameworks of the European Union and interacting with agencies such as the European Science Foundation and the Joint Research Centre. Over successive Framework Programmes and Horizon Europe cycles, CESAER adapted to shifts reflected in declarations from G8 and summits hosted in cities like Brussels and Lisbon.

Membership and Organization

Membership comprises technical universities and engineering faculties from nations including Spain, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Austria, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia. Member institutions often mirror renowned schools such as Imperial College London, Delft University of Technology, University of Cambridge (Department of Engineering), Politecnico di Torino, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, TU Munich, and Chalmers University of Technology. The organization maintains working groups and task forces that echo structures from consortia like CERN Users' Meeting and partnerships similar to CLUSTER.

Governance and Leadership

Governance follows a board model with representation from rectors and deans analogous to procedures used by European University Association and League of European Research Universities. Presidents and vice-presidents have included leaders from ETH Zurich, TU Delft, RWTH Aachen, and KU Leuven, while secretariats have been based in cities tied to institutions such as Leuven and Ghent. Leadership engages with commissioners and commissioners’ cabinets of the European Commission and participates in advisory bodies resembling the High Level Group on Competitiveness.

Activities and Initiatives

CESAER organizes conferences, congresses, and forums comparable to events like the World Engineering Conference and councils convened by OECD. It runs thematic initiatives on topics raised by agencies such as the European Environment Agency, the European Investment Bank, and the European Innovation Council, and convenes workshops that mirror programmes from Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. Collaborative platforms connect research offices and technology transfer units akin to structures at MIT and Stanford University.

Policy and Advocacy

The association issues position papers and policy briefs targeting instruments such as the European Green Deal, the Digital Single Market, and regulatory frameworks influenced by the European Commission and the European Parliament. It has submitted consultations responding to calls by the European Research Council and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, aligning recommendations with standards referenced by bodies like ISO and directives debated in Brussels.

Research and Education Collaboration

CESAER fosters joint programmes, doctoral networks, and mobility schemes integrated with initiatives like Erasmus+, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and collaborative grants from Horizon Europe. It encourages partnerships among departments and labs within members such as TU Munich, Politecnico di Milano, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Delft University of Technology, RWTH Aachen, Imperial College London, ETH Zurich, and École Polytechnique. Projects often interface with facilities and infrastructures associated with CERN, EMBL, ESRF, JRC, EIT Digital, EIT InnoEnergy, and regional innovation ecosystems in cities like Barcelona, Munich, Stockholm, and Turin.

Awards and Recognition

CESAER and its members participate in awards and recognitions similar to prizes administered by Royal Academy of Engineering, Academia Europaea, European Inventor Award, European Research Council Grants, and national academies such as the Royal Society and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Member researchers and institutions have been recipients of accolades including ERC Starting Grants, ERC Advanced Grants, Marie Curie Fellowships, and prizes from organizations like IEEE, ASME, IET, Royal Institution, and various national ministries of science and technology.

Category:European university associations Category:Engineering education