The absence of EU universities among the world’s top performers is deeply concerning and threatens Europe’s future competitiveness.
The numbers speak for themselves: only 8% of European patent applications originate from universities, and over 70% of European universities generate no patented knowledge at all. Meanwhile, just two European universities—both in the UK—are among the global top 50 patent applicants, compared to 18 each from the U.S. and China. This highlights a stark innovation gap that weakens the global standing of European higher education and threatens the continent’s role in shaping strategic technologies.
Beyond competitiveness, the concentration of university patenting in just five Western European countries, which account for 70% of academic patents, risks deepening regional divides. If left unaddressed, this imbalance could weaken the EU’s internal cohesion while simultaneously reducing its ability to compete with U.S. and Chinese innovation ecosystems.
A Defining Moment for Europe’s Research Future
To reverse this trend, the EU must take a dual approach: reducing regional disparities in innovation while ensuring that Europe’s top universities can compete with the world’s leading institutions. This requires a comprehensive strategy:
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- Strengthening Research Collaboration with the UK and the US – Despite Brexit, the UK remains a European research powerhouse. Establishing robust partnerships will ensure continued access to cutting-edge research and talent. In addition, European universities should seek partnerships with US universities – or even making attractive offers to drive top US researchers abroad. While the latter approach would have seemed little promising a short while ago, it might become increasingly attractive to US researchers at a time when threats to US university funding and academic freedom increase.
- Accelerating the Commercialization of University Research – Many European universities struggle to translate research into market-ready technologies. Simplifying technology transfer processes, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and increasing funding for university spin-offs can drive innovation-driven growth.
- Targeted Investment in Research Excellence – While reducing regional disparities is crucial, the EU must also ensure that its leading research institutions receive the support necessary to compete globally. Strategic funding initiatives should focus on high-impact research fields such as AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology.
If Europe fails to act, it risks falling behind in critical technologies that will define future economic power. By fostering stronger university research, enhancing commercialization efforts, and ensuring a balanced innovation landscape, Europe can position itself as a leader in global technological competition while maintaining internal unity and resilience.
Opinion piece by Aleksandra Parteka based on her and her team's research on knowledge creation by higher education institutions, in particular the working paper "A dataset on knowledge creation and patenting by European Higher Education Institutions (KC-HEI)".
