Universities of science and technology advancing the Clean Industrial Deal

The leading universities of science and technology across Europe, united within CESAER, welcome the Clean Industrial Deal (CID) as a critical initiative to accelerate industrial decarbonisation while reinforcing Europe's global competitiveness. Building on our 2023 declaration on sustainability and key positions on deep tech, disruptive innovation, and competitiveness, we provide in this paper recommendations to ensure that universities of science and technology can fully contribute across all dimensions to advancing the CID. We focus in particular on strengthening scientific and technological leadership, developing talent, and driving sustainable industrial innovation. Our key recommendations are detailed around six points Support the Clean Industrial Deal through leadership in science and technology Invest in people, talent, and skills for a sustainable industrial future Support green innovation startups, spinouts and scale-outs Strengthen circularity as a core principle Integrate “Do No Significant Harm” (DNSH) principles Strengthen global collaboration