The Significance of University Cities

European university cities are the "pearls" of the European knowledge society.

They are the birthplaces of excellent research, new discoveries, innovations, and ideas, and they attract bright and creative minds. They foster a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, as students and researchers establish new enterprises—benefiting both local communities and the wider regional economy. Moreover, students and graduates represent a source of fresh and highly qualified human capital for employers in cities and regions.

European university cities make a significant contribution to the goals of a smart, sustainable, and inclusive Europe by 2030. Together with major metropolitan areas, they form the backbone of Europe’s knowledge-based economy. They play a key role in strengthening territorial competitiveness and cohesion, and they contribute to a more sustainable urban system across the continent. After all, it is local actors who drive sustainable development—and university cities occupy a special position in this regard.

These cities possess a number of unique characteristics:

• Their density and organizational capacity facilitate easy contact, rapid network-building, fast exchange, and flexible yet stable relationships between key urban stakeholders.

• Their universities serve as engines of internationalisation for both city and region. Owing to the international character of higher education, university cities often have more diverse populations than their surrounding areas.

• Universities are drivers of excellent research and innovation, with relevance that extends far beyond their campuses. They are not only centers of education, but also hubs of international excellence, often fostering the creation of new businesses and driving innovation with regional employers.

• University cities are centers of cultural production and consumption, sustained by vibrant and demanding student populations—bringing added value to the broader community.

• Typically, they are also politically active spaces, cradles of democratic debate, grassroots movements, counterculture, and societal change.