The EuroTech Universities Alliance has celebrated its 15th anniversary in Brussels. The alliance, co-founded by the Technical University of Munich (TUM), pools research, innovation and infrastructure for Europe's technological future. On January 1, 2027, the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU) and Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) will bring the number of member universities to eight. The accession agreements were signed during the anniversary celebrations.
Octavian Carare / EuroTech In brief
- European Network of Leading Universities
- EuroTech Universities Seek to Expand and Deepen Collaboration
- Awards for Early-Career Researchers at TUM
"We co-founded the EuroTech Alliance 15 years ago because we believe in the power of European collaboration," said TUM President Prof. Thomas F. Hofmann. "What began as a partnership among a number of universities has now become a network that connects cutting-edge research, innovation and European policy. With CTU and TalTech joining us, we are gaining members whose strengths and innovation ecosystems complement the alliance. Together, we can pursue initiatives that go beyond the capabilities of any single university."
Looking Ahead: Strategy 2030
For the next phase of its activities, the alliance has established a framework with its Strategy 2030. It is based on three objectives: deepening synergies among the member universities in research, innovation, infrastructure and teaching; translating scientific findings into policy recommendations for European decision-makers; and connecting ecosystems comprising science, industry and society more closely across Europe.
The History of EuroTech
Founded in 2011 by TUM, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), the alliance was later joined by Institut Polytechnique de Paris (IPP) and Israel's Technion.
The alliance will expand to eight member universities on January 1, 2027. "By welcoming CTU and TalTech, we are expanding our geographical reach and connecting complementary strengths and innovation ecosystems," says Thierry Coulhon, current President of the EuroTech Universities Alliance and President of IPP. "Our vision is not only to enlarge the alliance, but to deepen our relationships, act together on a larger scale and make a tangible contribution to Europe's technological future."
Since 2012, a dedicated office in Brussels has connected the alliance with the EU institutions.
Success for TUM Early-Career Researchers
The winners of the EuroTech Rising Stars Award 2026 were also honored during the anniversary celebrations. The award recognizes outstanding early-career researchers in the Research and Innovation categories. TUM postdoctoral researcher Lukas Burgholzer won in the Innovation category for developing software that makes quantum computers easier to use and connects them with classical computing systems. His TUM colleague Andrés Felipe Castro Méndez, who researches novel solar cells, took third place in the Research category.
