Universities: A league of its own

On its 20th anniversary, the Leru university group looks forward from a position of influence

Back in 2002, the fledgling League of European Research Universities network held its first meeting in the Dutch city of Leiden with 12 members. Two decades and another 11 members later, Leru was back in Leiden to hear a host of politicians and other high-profile speakers heap praise on its work.

At the event on 19 May, Robbert Dijkgraaf, the Dutch research minister, labelled the group “an incredible advocate for research” that has been “pushing the European agenda”. It’s one of the “strongest voices” in Brussels, he said.