The opening session of the conference was chaired by the Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal, Manuel Heitor, and the Director-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture of the European Commission, Themis Christophidou.

Keynote Speaker

• Sophia Eriksson-Waterschoot, Director for Youth, Education and Erasmus+ of the European Commission

Speakers

• Màrius Martinez, Vice-President for International Relations of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain, and President of ECIU European University
• Daniela Trani, University of Maastricht, Netherlands, Director of YUFE Alliance
• João Rocha, President of the Polytechnic of Porto, Portugal, and Coordinator of ATHENA European University
• Rui Pedrosa, President of the Polytechnic of Leiria, Portugal, and Coordinator of Regional University Network – European University
• Anna-Lena Claeys-Kulik, European University Association
• Stéphane Lauwick, President of the European Association of Institutions in Higher Education

Keynote Speaker

• Thomas Weko, Head of Higher Education Unit in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Speakers

• Mark Brown, Director of the National Institute for Digital Learning (Ireland)
• Célia Reis, Chair of the Board Altran (Portugal)
• Timea Csanaki, HR-Representative – Academic Cooperations of Audi Hungaria, Hungary.
• Juha Haukka, Managing Director of Suomen Yrittäjät in Häme (The Regional Association of Entrepreneurs in Hame), Finland
• Jimmy Heinzl, CEO of WISTO – Wirtschafts-Standort Vorarlberg GmbH (Austria)

Keynote Speaker

• Nuno Rodrigues, Vice-President for Research of the Polytechnic of Leiria, Portugal, RUN-EU European University

Speakers

• Joan Guàrdia Olmos, Rector of the University of Barcelona, Spain, and Coordinator of CHARM European University
• Manuel José Damásio, Lusófona University, Portugal and Coordinator of FILMEU European University
• António Cunha, President of the Norte Portugal Regional Coordination and Development Commission
• Eduardo Anselmo Castro, Vice-President of the Centro Portugal Regional Coordination and Development Commission
• Hans-Paul van der Snee, Director of Innovatiepact Fryslân, Netherlands

Keynote Speakers

• Ruaidhri Neavyn , Special Advisor to the Higher Education Authority of Ireland, and member of the Steering Board of the RUN-EU European University
• Han Brezet, EU Projects Boosting Team – Innovatiepact Fryslan, Netherlands, and member of the Steering Board of the RUN-EU European University

Speakers

• Pat Daly, CEO of Limerick City and County Council, Ireland
• Pat Gallagher, Chief Executive Westmeath County Council, Ireland
• Anna-Mari Ahonen, Region Mayor – Regional Council of Häme, Finland
• Arno Brok, King’s Commissioner of the Province of Friesland, Netherlands
• Gabriela Dür, Head of the Department of Science and Continuing Education of the Federal State of Vorarlberg, Austria
• Emile Boc, Rapporteur of the European Comittee of the Regions

Agreement of RUN-EU members with Regional Government representatives about the long-term vision and the construction of the EZ-ID – European Zone for Inter-regional Development.

The closing session of the conference was chaired by the President of the Polytechnic of Leiria and Coordinator of the Regional University Network – European University, Rui Pedrosa, and the State Secretary for Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal, Manuel Sobrinho Teixeira.