Young European Research Universities Network

YERUN – Young European Research Universities Network – is a network of 24 young research universities across Europe. Founded in 2015 and based in Brussels, YERUN’s main objective is to strengthen the voice of young research universities in Europe through strategic representation and policy advocacy.

YERUN plays an active role in the development of European education, research and innovation policies. The network contributes to policy development through a combination of targeted advocacy, structured dialogue with EU institutions, and the production of policy recommendations and opinion papers. Recent advocacy efforts include YERUN’s input to the ERA Policy Agenda 2025–2027, its position papers on the next EU Framework Program (FP10: Attractive, impactful and inclusive), and calls for increased support for initiatives such as the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (We need much more MSCA!).

In addition to its work at the policy level, the network fosters collaboration among its members on shared priorities and enhances their visibility through a targeted communication strategy.

Being part of YERUN enables member universities to actively engage in European policy discussions that directly impact their future. Through the network, members gain collective visibility, access to strategic advocacy, and opportunities to influence policy on issues that matter to young research universities. In parallel, YERUN fosters concrete collaboration among institutions, allowing them to share practices, develop joint initiatives, and amplify their voice at the European level, something that would be far more difficult to achieve individually.

What is CONNECT by YERUN?

CONNECT by YERUN is a centralized digital resource that facilitates collaboration, data access, and networking for researchers and research management teams across YERUN institutions. By offering tailored tools for both researchers and managers, the platform is a vital part of YERUN’s mission to foster open science and cross-disciplinary research throughout Europe.

Platform Highlights:

• Dynamic collaboration insight: CONNECT by YERUN provides real-time insights into the current research focus areas and collaborations across YERUN institutions.
• Comprehensive data access: Through the platform, users can access an extensive repository of data on YERUN members’ EU project participation and publication history. This feature is instrumental for both researchers and managers to quickly identify existing expertise, and plan future research strategies.
• Intelligent matchmaking tool: One of the platform’s standout features is its intelligent matchmaking tool, which enables researchers and managers to identify ideal collaborators for funding applications, new research initiatives, and opportunities like the YERUN Research Mobility Awards. This tailored support accelerates the collaboration process and increases the potential for successful project outcomes.
• Integration with EU funding calls: CONNECT by YERUN seamlessly integrates access to current and upcoming EU funding calls, matching these opportunities with relevant researchers within the network. This feature simplifies the process of discovering and applying for EU funding, helping institutions build sustainable, long-term funding strategies.

How to use it:

• Make powerful searches: Search for individuals, but also publications and grants. You can use long texts to find what you are looking for, while still being able to use filters and keywords.
• Get suggestions: According to the publication abstracts on your profile the app will suggest some more researchers and grants you might be interested in, based on AI text analysis
• Everything in one place: Access information available on multiple platforms (ORCID, CORDIS, etc.) is one easy to use web application.

Who Can Access CONNECT by YERUN?

The platform is available to all researchers and research managers within the YERUN network. To access the platform, users are required to have an ORCID ID (Make sure your email is publicly visible. Without publicly visible institutional email on your ORCID profile, will not be able to access the platform in general.)

Benefits for Researchers and Research Managers:

• For Researchers: CONNECT by YERUN is a gateway to a wider professional network, enabling researchers to explore new project possibilities, find collaborators across Europe, and increase the impact of their work. The platform’s data insights and matchmaking tools simplify the process of initiating and maintaining productive partnerships.

For Research Managers: CONNECT by YERUN equips research managers with essential tools to oversee and support research activities within their institutions. From tracking ongoing projects to aligning with funding calls, research managers can use the platform to streamline their strategies and facilitate collaboration.

YERUN and the developers are hosting “Virtual Presentation Tour”s to introduce Connect by YERUN. The Virtual Presentation Tour offers a tailored webinar for each YERUN member interested in participating. The session will be delivered by SDU, in collaboration with the local Research Support team. Dates will be coordinated individually with each university and can start as early as 1 December 2024. These presentations can also be integrated into events such as Research Office Days, Away Days, or similar internal occasions.