18  June

The document reinforces university involvement to increase their territorial impact in the cities and territories that host them through research and transfer. The Mayor of Granada and the President of the Provincial Council have also signed the text.

On Thursday 18 June, the University of Granada hosted the signing of the Poitiers-Granada Declaration, a commitment promoted within the Coimbra Group that gives continuity to the 2016 Poitiers Declaration and updates the cooperation between universities and their host cities. The document was signed by the Rector of the University of Granada, Pedro Mercado; the Chair of the Executive Board of the Coimbra Group, Ludovic Thilly, on behalf of the 42 universities that make up the entity; the Mayor of Granada, Marifrán Carazo; and the President of the Provincial Council of Granada, Francisco Rodríguez.

The signing took place in the PTS Auditorium within the framework of the Coimbra Group Annual Conference, with this edition focusing on the transformation of the local and social environment through research and innovation. The new text, in line with the commitments made in previous Coimbra Group meetings—principally the June 2025 Bologna Conference—recalls the need for collaborative work among universities, public administrations, and social agents to generate a positive impact on the territories where they are established, thereby reinforcing the territorial dimension of university activity.

During the event, the Rector of the University of Granada, Pedro Mercado, stressed that “this declaration represents a step forward in a shared vision where universities, cities, and territories work together to transform the social environment through research and innovation.” Likewise, the Rector of the University of Granada, Pedro Mercado, emphasized the commitment of the institution to its immediate environment, stating that “from the University of Granada, we advocate for an academic activity committed to its local community, capable of generating a real impact, especially on the problems that affect our youth and our communities.”

For his part, the Chair of the Executive Board of the Coimbra Group, Ludovic Thilly, highlighted that Granada became “the center of Europe for knowledge, education, and research” during these days with this Coimbra Group meeting. Regarding the declaration, Thilly believed that “universities are called upon to make a difference and to contribute to solving the challenges facing citizens through the generation of knowledge with a social impact.” This Poitiers-Granada Declaration, he noted, is an initiative “in pursuit of serving the common good.” Finally, the Chair called upon “all political leaders and all citizens to join us in working towards building solutions for the future.”