idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
idw - Informationsdienst
Wissenschaft
The University of Freiburg and the University of Southern Denmark in Odense are strengthening their existing collaboration within the framework of the European university alliance EPICUR. To this end, they have signed a ‘Strategic Partnership Agreement’ with a particular focus on medical technology. Both universities are specifically pooling their activities in the areas of research, mobility and teaching. A steering committee, which has been meeting regularly since December 2025, is guiding the strategic development of the cooperation.
Prof. Dr. Kerstin Krieglstein, Rector at the University of Freiburg, and Prof. Dr. Melanie Arndt, Vice Rector for Internationalisation and Sustainability, welcomed Prof. Dr. Jens Ringsmose, Rector at the University of Southern Denmark in Odense, and Søren Vilby, Chair of the Board at the University of Southern Denmark in Odense, to Freiburg.
Since 2022, the two universities have been linked by a close partnership, particularly through their collaboration within the European university alliance EPICUR (European Partnership for an Innovative Campus Unifying Regions). Between 2020 and 2025, the University of Freiburg and the University of Southern Denmark in Odense also published around 195 joint academic papers. Close ties exist particularly in the Clinical & Life Sciences, which are now to be specifically developed further in the field of medical technology. “This partnership demonstrates how we are specifically strengthening European cooperation, jointly providing new impetus for research and teaching, and thus creating new prospects for innovation and international networking,” emphasises Arndt.
Through the strategic expansion of the partnership, both universities aim to jointly build on their complementary strengths in research and teaching, thereby creating new opportunities for interdisciplinary cooperation at the interface between medicine and technology.
Focus on three key areas
The partnership focuses on research, mobility and teaching. Plans include joint research initiatives and targeted funding instruments such as seed funding to support the preparation of international and interdisciplinary applications for third-party funding. In addition, cooperation on European funding programmes is to be strengthened. There are also plans to expand exchange programmes for students and researchers, as well as to develop joint teaching formats and joint supervision arrangements, for example within the framework of doctoral projects.
Established in 2025, the steering committee is coordinating the partnership
The Steering Committee, established in December 2025, acts as the partnership’s central governing body. It defines the strategic direction, coordinates the implementation of programmes and sets up working groups in selected priority areas. The first concrete measures, including joint workshops, delegation visits and the establishment of thematic working groups, are set to be implemented as early as 2026.
Joint strategic development
The University of Freiburg and the University of Southern Denmark view this expanded partnership as a long-term strategic investment in their international collaboration. The aim is to jointly strengthen their competitiveness within the European Research Area, particularly with regard to major international funding programmes and the further development of the European university network EPICUR. The partnership, which is initially set to run for four years, aims to promote research excellence, strengthen mobility and talent development, and further expand cooperation in teaching and innovation. Its specific focus will remain dynamic and will be developed jointly.
Additional links:
EPICUR: https://epicur.edu.eu/
University of Southern Denmark Odense: https://www.sdu.dk/en
Contact
Office of University and Science Communciations
University of Freiburg
Tel.: +49 761 203 4302
e-mail: kommunikation@zv.uni-freiburg.de
https://uni-freiburg.de/en/strengthening-european-cooperation-the-university-of-...
Prof. Dr. Jens Ringsmose, Prof. Dr. Kerstin Krieglstein, and Søren Vilby (from left to right).
Copyright: Jürgen Gocke / University of Freiburg
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