There is a perceived need to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs round the world. Europe is no exception to this trend. Indeed, as a rich continent, Europe should be playing a key role in promoting the cause of sustainable development, and be a leader in efforts towards pursuing a global sustainability agenda. And research is a central component of this process. It is against this background that the “European Alliance for Sustainability Research” has been created. The questions and answer below serve the purpose of explaining this new initiative, led and coordinated by the European School of Sustainability Science and Research. EASR will use the transformative potential of research as a tool towards putting the principles of sustainability into practice, hence accelerating the implementation of the UN SDGs, and helping to foster knowledge on sustainability in Europe and beyond.
Q: What is the European Alliance for Sustainability Research?
A: The European Alliance for Sustainability Research is an ESSSR initiative. Created in 2018, ESSSR is a leading research organisation on matters related to sustainable development in Europe. Its membership encompasses 60+ universities from across the European Research Area. Since it was founded, ESSSR has generated a variety of projects whose total volume exceeds Euro 9 million to date. ESSSR members, working together with the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme, are very prolific and have been publishing an average of one scientific paper per month, significantly contributing to the literature on sustainable development.
The European Alliance for Sustainability Research is being created to provide a needed impulse to catalyse the pursuit of research on sustainable development in Europe, by taking advantage of the various national and international funding streams available. A special mention is made to Horizon Europe and the regional development programmes such as Interreg. The Alliance will offer a professional infrastructure for the generation of projects, to the advantage of its members.
Q: What will the European Alliance for Sustainability Research do?
A: The European Alliance for Sustainability Research will prepare and submit project proposals, as well as undertake a series of sustainable development research projects. For the period 2021-2028, it is expected to mobilise a variety of projects with an estimated volume of Euro 20 million. Members of the Alliance will also further the cause of sustainability, by means of quality publications to be published in scientific journals.
Q: What are the requirements to members?
A: Both public and private education institutions, as well as companies and associations engaged with sustainability research may join the Alliance. A commitment to research is a pre-condition for participation.
Q: Is participation at the European Alliance for Sustainability Research free?
A: Yes, membership is free of charges. However, we expect those which join to be committed to innovation in the field of sustainability, and to be actively engaged in the process leading to the generation of European projects and in the development of project proposals.
Q: How can we join the European Alliance for Sustainability Research?
A. Expressions of interest to join the European Alliance for Sustainability Research should be sent to the ESSSR office in Hamburg: esssr( at )ls.haw-hamburg.de. They should entail a letter of motivation as to why given institution wishes to join the Alliance, along with the following details:
– Name of the Organisation:
– Country:
– Areas of interest:
– Name of the contact person:
– Position of the contact person in the institution:
– E-mail:
Further details will be sent to those organisations selected.
Further information:
EASR Secretariat, European Alliance for Sustainability Research
European School of Sustainability Science and Research
Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
Ulmenliet 20
21033 Hamburg, Germany
E-mail: esssr( at )ls.haw-hamburg.de