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Former EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel receives Doctor Honoris Causa in Cluj-Napoca and praises EUt+ as “a reference for alliances of technology”
Published on October 15, 2025
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Updated on October 15, 2025
Dates
on the October 15, 2025
The Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (TUCN), member of the European University of Technology (EUt+) Alliance, has awarded its highest academic distinction, the title of Doctor Honoris Causa, to Mrs. Mariya Gabriel, former European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.
The awarding ceremony took place during the gathering of the EUt+ partners, hosted by TUCN in Cluj-Napoca between 6 and 8 October 2025. The timing carried symbolic meaning, highlighting Mrs. Gabriel’s decisive role in shaping European higher education and science policy, as well as in creating and consolidating the European Universities Initiative, which now connects more than 60 alliances across Europe and made the EUt+ alliance possible.
During the ceremony, Mariya Gabriel underlined the impact of the European University Initiative and spoke with particular warmth about EUt+:
“I must admit that your alliance is special to me. It’s a reference for European Universities Alliances. Your accomplishments have already made a valuable contribution to the European Higher Education Area, especially in the field of technological education.”
Her words highlight the growing recognition of EUt+ as a model of European integration in technological education, bringing together nine universities across the continent to create a common European degree in engineering and to foster sustainable mobility among students and researchers.
Born in Bulgaria, Mrs. Mariya Gabriel has built her career on strengthening European cooperation and promoting knowledge and innovation. She served three terms as a Member of the European Parliament and later as European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society (2017–2019), and for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth (2019–2023).
During her mandates, she led major European initiatives such as Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Creative Europe, the European Universities Alliances, and the New European Innovation Agenda. She also founded the European Network of Innovative Higher Education Institutions (ENIHEI), advanced the creation of the European Education Area, and promoted policies to support women in STEM and entrepreneurship.
Mrs. Gabriel has long recognized Cluj-Napoca as a European hub for education, research, and innovation. She visited the city several times, including at the Startup Europe Summit (2019), StartupCity Cluj-Napoca launch (2020), and Innowave Summit (2022), where she endorsed the Women in Tech initiative.
These visits led to a close collaboration between Mrs. Gabriel, TUCN, and the EUt+ alliance. Together, they advanced projects such as the Women in Tech Manifesto, the DeepTech Manifesto, and the EUt+ Startup Villages Pledge.
After leaving the European Commission, Mrs. Gabriel served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria (2023–2024), promoting education and culture as tools of diplomacy. Today, as President of the Robert Schuman Institute, she continues to advocate for democracy, innovation, and intercultural dialogue.
The event not only celebrated Mrs. Gabriel’s achievements but also reaffirmed the shared mission of the EUt+ community — to build a more innovative, inclusive, and united Europe through higher education.
During the ceremony, Mariya Gabriel underlined the impact of the European University Initiative and spoke with particular warmth about EUt+:
“I must admit that your alliance is special to me. It’s a reference for European Universities Alliances. Your accomplishments have already made a valuable contribution to the European Higher Education Area, especially in the field of technological education.”
Her words highlight the growing recognition of EUt+ as a model of European integration in technological education, bringing together nine universities across the continent to create a common European degree in engineering and to foster sustainable mobility among students and researchers.
Born in Bulgaria, Mrs. Mariya Gabriel has built her career on strengthening European cooperation and promoting knowledge and innovation. She served three terms as a Member of the European Parliament and later as European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society (2017–2019), and for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth (2019–2023).
During her mandates, she led major European initiatives such as Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Creative Europe, the European Universities Alliances, and the New European Innovation Agenda. She also founded the European Network of Innovative Higher Education Institutions (ENIHEI), advanced the creation of the European Education Area, and promoted policies to support women in STEM and entrepreneurship.
Mrs. Gabriel has long recognized Cluj-Napoca as a European hub for education, research, and innovation. She visited the city several times, including at the Startup Europe Summit (2019), StartupCity Cluj-Napoca launch (2020), and Innowave Summit (2022), where she endorsed the Women in Tech initiative.
These visits led to a close collaboration between Mrs. Gabriel, TUCN, and the EUt+ alliance. Together, they advanced projects such as the Women in Tech Manifesto, the DeepTech Manifesto, and the EUt+ Startup Villages Pledge.
After leaving the European Commission, Mrs. Gabriel served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria (2023–2024), promoting education and culture as tools of diplomacy. Today, as President of the Robert Schuman Institute, she continues to advocate for democracy, innovation, and intercultural dialogue.
The event not only celebrated Mrs. Gabriel’s achievements but also reaffirmed the shared mission of the EUt+ community — to build a more innovative, inclusive, and united Europe through higher education.
Date of update 15 October 2025