In collaboration with KnowledgeRights21, we proudly present the 5th Freedom project in our innovation lab!

🔎 In this thought-provoking Innovation Lab episode, we take a deeper analytical dive into the 5th Freedom—the free circulation of knowledge across the European Union. Through the lens of Peter Spyns, coordinator of international R&I policies at the Flemish Department of Work, Economy, Science, Innovation and Social Economy, we explore how the European Research and Innovation Area (ERA) provides the structural backbone to make this freedom a reality.

Spyns introduces the concept of the “knowledge cube” to help map the production, diffusion, and absorption of knowledge across key actors—governments, academia, industry, and civil society. From researcher mobility to policy coordination, this episode breaks down how the 5th Freedom can move from abstract ambition to actionable policy.

Key quotes:
🗣️ “The 5th Freedom is about the free circulation of knowledge in the European Union in a kind of single European knowledge market.”
🗣️ “The ERA is the context, the framework, the government structure, etc. that make the 5th freedom a reality.”
🗣️ “Once you have examined all the cells of this, what I call the knowledge cube, you can decide on priorities for actions and initiatives.”
🗣️ “In order to make the 5th freedom happen, you of course need to build on the four others, being the freedom of circulation of persons, goods, services, and capital.”
🗣️ “Mutual learning exercises are a way of circulating knowledge between governments.”

📌 About Our Guest
🎙️ Peter Spyns | Coordinator of International R&I Policies
🌐https://www.ewi-vlaanderen.be/en/contacten/peter-spyns
🌐linkedin.com/in/peterspyns 

A leading figure in European R&I governance, Peter Spyns brings a systems-level perspective to how Europe can unlock the full potential of its knowledge economy—by embedding the 5th Freedom in structure, strategy, and ultimately, law.

Our bite-sized videos bring you:

↪️ Expert predictions on the future of Europe’s competitive edge in a knowledge-driven economy.

↪️ Crucial insights on what policymakers should (1) enable—bold investments in research and innovation—and (2) avoid—barriers that limit the free movement of ideas and talent.

#5thfreedom

In collaboration with KnowledgeRights21, we proudly present the 5th Freedom project in our innovation lab!

🔎 In our latest Innovation Lab, philosopher Thomas Sturm explores how the 5th Freedom—the free circulation of knowledge and researchers—can become the cornerstone of a stronger, smarter, and more democratic Europe. From its philosophical roots to policy action points, he makes the case for turning this often-overlooked concept into a tangible right for scientists and societies alike.

Key quotes:
🗣️ “The 5th freedom’s central goal is to enhance the free mobility of researchers.”
🗣️ “Researchers should not perceive national borders inside the EU. EU member states must abolish unnecessary and discriminatory national rules and habits.”
🗣️ “We need freedom not just for knowledge, but for the process that generates it.”
🗣️ “Much scientific knowledge requires know-how of procedures and methods. This knowledge cannot be expressed completely by abstract rules.”
🗣️ “Science is one of the best inventions of human culture and history. It creates ever better, less biased and less parochial knowledge of nature and humankind.”

📌About Our Guest
🎙️ Thomas Sturm | ICREA & Autonomous University of Barcelona
🌐 https://www.icrea.cat
🌐 linkedin.com/in/thomas-sturm-b458a4230 

Read the paper on: the 5th Freedom:

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/european-review/article/eus-fifth-freedom-why-and-how-to-develop-the-freedom-of-knowledge/593D3128D60C889B9C8092D6CC636123 

Thomas Sturm specializes in the philosophy of rationality and science policy. His work connects foundational concepts with real-world needs—arguing that Europe’s future as a knowledge society depends on the political realization of the 5th Freedom. His recent publication in the European Review lays out a detailed roadmap for this transformation.

Our bite-sized videos bring you:

↪️ Expert predictions on the future of Europe’s competitive edge in a knowledge-driven economy.

↪️ Crucial insights on what policymakers should (1) enable—bold investments in research and innovation—and (2) avoid—barriers that limit the free movement of ideas and talent.

#5thfreedom

In collaboration with KnowledgeRights21, we proudly present the 5th Freedom project in our innovation lab!
 

🔎 In our latest Innovation Lab episode, we explore why the 5th Freedom—the free circulation of researchers, knowledge, and technology—is more than just a policy buzzword. With the compelling perspective of Sergej Možina, Slovenian Science Attaché and EU R&I policy veteran, we uncover why Europe urgently needs to transform this vision into a tangible, collective reality.
 

Key quotes:

🗣️ “Sometimes we call it the 5th Freedom. Sometimes the European Research Area. Some call it the R&I Union. But it’s all the same simple objective: an environment where researchers, knowledge, and technology circulate freely.”

🗣️ “That’s in the Treaty. Article 179. It’s our constitutional responsibility to make this happen.”

🗣️ “What researchers actually need are the four freedoms—of goods, services, capital, and people. That’s how knowledge can flow.”

🗣️ “If we can build the 28th regime for startups, why can’t we build the 5th Freedom for researchers?”

🗣️ “We have a big opportunity here—to reverse brain drain, to make Europe not just the best place to live, but the best place to work in research and innovation.”

📌About Our Guest

🎙️Sergej Možina | Slovenian Science Attaché to the EU

🌐 https://www.gov.si/en/representations/permanent-representation-to-the-european-union-brussels/about-the-permanent-representation-to-the-european-union-brussels/   

🌐linkedin.com/in/sergej-možina-56a33a3

A Brussels-based R&I policy expert, Sergej Možina has long championed the idea that the future of European competitiveness depends on unlocking the 5th Freedom—not in theory, but through collective and structural action.

Our bite-sized videos bring you:

↪️ Expert predictions on the future of Europe’s competitive edge in a knowledge-driven economy.

↪️ Crucial insights on what policymakers should (1) enable—bold investments in research and innovation—and (2) avoid—barriers that limit the free movement of ideas and talent.

#5thfreedom

In collaboration with KnowledgeRights21, we proudly present the 5th Freedom project in our innovation lab!

🔎 In this edition of Innovation Lab, we dive into why the free movement of knowledge—the proposed 5th Freedom—is not just a policy ambition but a structural necessity for Europe’s resilience and competitiveness. Julien Chicot, Head of Research Innovation Policy at The Guild, outlines the cultural and legal barriers still holding back research collaboration, and makes a compelling case for turning the European Research Area (ERA) into a truly enabling space for scientists and society alike.

Key quotes:

🗣️ “Cross-border collaboration is simply critical to scientific excellence in Europe.”

🗣️ “We need an ERA Act, just to ensure that researchers are never denied access to data just because of legal uncertainties.”

🗣️ “It’s only by being together that they can effectively identify the challenges, but also the solutions for the free movement of knowledge in Europe.”

🗣️ “We have to turn our diversity into an asset to push the frontier of knowledge.”

🗣️ “Our universities look forward to solutions that will help researchers to access any type of data under fair conditions.”

📌About Our Guest

🎙️ Julien Chicot | The Guild

🌐 https://www.the-guild.eu/ 

🌐 linkedin.com/in/julien-e-j-chicot 

Julien Chicot brings a strategic lens to the intersection of research excellence and EU policymaking. At The Guild—a network of 22 research-intensive universities—he champions a future where legal clarity and institutional reform unlock Europe’s full research potential.

Our bite-sized videos bring you:

↪️ Expert predictions on the future of Europe’s competitive edge in a knowledge-driven economy.

↪️ Crucial insights on what policymakers should (1) enable—bold investments in research and innovation—and (2) avoid—barriers that limit the free movement of ideas and talent.

#5thfreedom

In collaboration with KnowledgeRights21, we proudly present the 5th Freedom project in our innovation lab!

🔎 In our latest Innovation Lab, we explore why free circulation of knowledge and researchers—the so-called 5th Freedom—isn’t just a legal aspiration, but an urgent necessity for Europe's future. With sharp insights from Kurt Deketelaere, Secretary-General of LERU, we dig into the roots, roadblocks, and real possibilities for turning the European Research Area (ERA) into a functioning legal reality.

Key quotes:

🗣️ “The European Research Area is a legal obligation. It’s time we treat it as such.”

🗣️ “After 25 years of voluntary measures, we must acknowledge that real progress now depends on a legislative initiative.”

🗣️ “The 5th Freedom—of knowledge and researchers—should be just as enforceable as the freedoms of goods, services, people, and capital.”

🗣️ “We need a lean, realistic ERA Act: one that anchors core principles and removes national obstacles to free knowledge circulation.”

🗣️ “It’s not just about research. We should build one coherent European Knowledge Area—linking research, innovation, and education under a single legal framework.”

📌About Our Guest

🎙️Kurt Deketelaere | League of European Research Universities (LERU)

🌐https://www.leru.org

🌐linkedin.com/in/kurt-deketelaere-124430316 

Professor Kurt Deketelaere is a seasoned legal scholar and policy strategist in European R&I affairs. As the long-standing Secretary-General of LERU, he has championed the idea that legal certainty and structured integration are critical for unleashing the full potential of Europe's research and education systems.

Our bite-sized videos bring you:

↪️ Expert predictions on the future of Europe’s competitive edge in a knowledge-driven economy.

↪️ Crucial insights on what policymakers should (1) enable—bold investments in research and innovation—and (2) avoid—barriers that limit the free movement of ideas and talent.

#5thfreedom

In collaboration with KnowledgeRights21, we proudly introduce the 5th Freedom project in our new innovation lab: Shaping Europe’s Future through Knowledge, Education & Innovation!

🔎 In our first Innovation Lab, we dive into how the 5th Freedom can move from concept to concrete solutions, reshaping the future of research and innovation in the EU.

Key quotes:
🗣️ “We are living in strange times… and one has the feeling that Hegel was right, saying, ‘The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.’”
🗣️ “We are a major economic power, but not considered adequately in international geostrategic relations. Building strategic importance requires deeper integration—in fiscal, external, and defense policy—and a stronger internal market.”
🗣️ “Sustainability is not in opposition to competitiveness; it’s a critical success factor. Educated and well-connected people are the best guarantee for freedom, democracy, and a sustainable future.”
🗣️ “As Commissioner for Science and Research, I argued back in 2007 for making knowledge the 5th Freedom. Today, that vision is more relevant than ever.”
🗣️ “The time has come to move beyond the outdated four freedoms. The 5th Freedom—freedom of knowledge, education, science, and innovation—is essential to empower Europe for a competitive, sustainable, and fairer future.”

📌 About Our Guest
🎙️ Janez Potočnik | the UNEP International  Resource Panel 
🌐https://www.resourcepanel.org 
🌐linkedin.com/in/janez-potocnik-872470a7

Dr Janez Potočnik is a Slovenian economist and seasoned policymaker renowned for his contributions to sustainable development and environmental policy. Since 2014, Dr Potočnik has co-chaired the UN Environment Programme’s International Resource Panel, focusing on sustainable resource management. He also chairs the Forum for the Future of Agriculture and the RISE Foundation, and is a partner at SYSTEMIQ, a firm promoting systemic change towards sustainability.

Our bite-sized videos bring you:
↪️ Expert predictions on the future of Europe’s competitive edge in a knowledge-driven economy.
↪️ Crucial insights on what policymakers should (1) enable—bold investments in research and innovation—and (2) avoid—barriers that limit the free movement of ideas and talent.

#5thfreedom