U7+ Summit 2026: Universities Help Shape the G7 Agenda

Representatives of U7+ Alliance universities gathered at Paris’s 13th arrondissement town hall on 15 April 2026 for the Presidential Summit.

The U7+ Alliance: university diplomacy in action

Created in 2019 under the high patronage of President Emmanuel Macron, the U7+ Alliance is the first international coalition of university leaders, bringing together nearly 50 leading institutions across five continents. Its ambition is to bring the voice of higher education and research to the highest level of international discussions, particularly with G7 governments, by turning academic and scientific reflection into concrete commitments to address major societal challenges.

The 2026 summit marks a turning point for the Alliance: it is now officially recognised as a G7 engagement group, establishing universities as essential diplomatic partners. More than a forum, the U7+ Alliance is a platform for collective action that brings the perspectives of the G7 into dialogue with those of countries in the Global South, providing the global outlook needed to safeguard the cohesion of tomorrow’s societies.

The Presidential Summit: two days to develop solutions to major global challenges

Co-hosted by Université Paris Cité, École Polytechnique and Sciences Po, this Paris edition brought together 85 university leaders from 14 countries around one central theme: the social role of universities in a divided world. Through this theme, Alliance members reaffirmed the university’s role as a space for intellectual freedom and scientific rigour, values that are inseparable from democratic vitality.

This year, the summit also featured three thematic sessions:

• Climate change and sustainability: moving beyond “climate fatigue” to deliver genuine sustainability.
• Dual-use research: reconciling cutting-edge innovation with security imperatives.
• Artificial intelligence: anticipating changes in education and strengthening ties with industry.

These discussions were further enriched at the gala dinner by opening remarks from Philippe Baptiste, Minister for Higher Education and Research, and a keynote address by Nobel Prize-winning economist Jean Tirole, both of whom underscored the crucial role of universities in educating future generations and their indispensable contribution to the stability of contemporary societies.

Academic expertise at the heart of international decision-making: presentation of the Communiqué at the Élysée

The Alliance’s invitation to the Élysée Palace was the high point of the summit, giving it major political significance. Kohei Itoh, President of Keio University and Chair of the Alliance, officially presented President Emmanuel Macron with the 2026 Communiqué, entitled The Social Role of Universities in a Divided World. Signed by 37 presidents of member universities, the document is intended to put forward recommendations and inform discussions at the next G7 Summit in Évian.

During the meeting, the French President reaffirmed his commitment to “promoting free and independent science, as well as academic freedom” and encouraged universities to “play an active role in today’s public sphere so that facts and scientific arguments prevail over the opinions, beliefs and disinformation saturating the media and social networks.”

In a context shaped by multiple crises, universities are asserting themselves as strategic partners. By combining their diverse expertise, they are turning academic excellence and scientific rigour into genuine decision-making tools for navigating today’s technological, climate and geopolitical disruptions.

“The social role of universities is no longer limited to the dissemination of research and knowledge; it has become an indispensable function in supporting decision-making for our democracies. By fostering substantive dialogue, academic freedom, and the integration of knowledge across disciplines, the U7+ Alliance transforms scientific expertise into a strategic compass for the G7. In Paris, we reaffirm that universities are the guarantors of social cohesion, a source of innovation, and capable of balancing the long-term nature of research with the urgency of global challenges”, Édouard Kaminski

UPCité: advancing Planetary Health at the highest level of international dialogue

As a founding member of the Alliance, Université Paris Cité helped lay the groundwork for this multilateral dialogue from the outset, making interdisciplinarity a key pillar of its international strategy.

Firmly committed to openness and cooperation, with a network of 268 international partners, Université Paris Cité brings its “Planetary Health” signature to the heart of international dialogue. The university promotes an integrated vision in which the health of individuals, societies and ecosystems is inseparable, enabling it to contribute to the development of sustainable solutions to global emergencies.