Since October 2025, Hendrik Ike (GÉANT) has been based in the newly created GÉANT Brussels Office on Rue Belliard. Located a 5-minute walk from the EU institutions, the Brussels Office is the “eyes and ears” of GÉANT in the capital of the European Union (EU). CONNECT spoke with Hendrik in his role as the EU Strategic Partnerships Manager running the new office, with the aim of increasing visibility, creating (human) networks, and identifying opportunities in the heart of Europe.
Before we talk about the perception of GÉANT in Brussels and the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) negotiations, we asked Hendrik to tell us more about the purpose of the new Brussels office.
From the outset, the objective of having a physical GÉANT presence in Brussels has remained the same; to inform policymakers of who we are in a meaningful way and to demonstrate the value of our community in order to safeguard our future. To do this, we are constantly trying to evolve and improve our narrative towards the European Institutions. This is not always an easy task. Matching the relevance of our service provision and community-building efforts to high-level, political priorities does not immediately paint a clear picture. But through earnest dialogue and frank conversation with our stakeholders, I have come to realise that not only do we fit in this picture, but we are becoming a bright and colourful part of it.
The public nature of NRENs and GÉANT aids European digital sovereignty efforts in a way that many policymakers are positively surprised by. Our reach, both within the EU-27, in the European neighbourhood, and globally, with a federated, reciprocal model is completely unique. The immense scale; connectivity to 50 million users at 10,000 institutions – is something that other bodies simply cannot compare with. It is these core messages, combined with the inherent will of NRENs and GÉANT to do good by R&E for society, that increasingly grows our profile in Brussels. Showing the work we have done, we continue to do, and we plan to commence with our key stakeholders here is both a pleasure and an honour. That normally starts with a morning coffee and chat outside of the office, right in the Brussels ‘Bubble’.
Hendrik, you’ve been meeting Members of the European Parliament, national Research Attachés, Commission representatives and other R&E stakeholders. How is GÉANT perceived in the Brussels ‘Bubble’?
In this regard, it is worth being quite honest with ourselves. The proportion of funding that the EU spends on GÉANT within the wider budget is incredibly small. The average MEP or EC representative who is not close to us in a legislative sense has usually never heard of us. This is to be expected. However, I have noticed two caveats. Firstly, for those who have, I have only heard positive recognition. Secondly, representatives from the Council are usually aware of the positive influence of their NREN. This is a welcome observation. Another observation is that adjacent organisations or think tanks in different digital areas do try to meet us and gauge our opinion on legislative files. We are of course limited in our ability to help other organisations, but this trend does speak well of our external image. I am also quite convinced that our marketing, communications, and design expertise has been a real strength here.
What are you expecting in the coming year until the negotiations around the next MFF 2028-2034 are finalized? Is GÉANT well positioned for the next MFF?
I am afraid that this is a difficult question to answer. Negotiations between the Commission, Parliament and the Council will begin in earnest come Autumn. The current reports of the ITRE Committee of the Parliament on the Commission proposal for the next FP10 (Horizon Europe) do not cause us any concern from a rules-based perspective, including the association mechanism that is vital for our non-EU-27 NRENs. The European Competitiveness Fund and Global Europe Fund? This is where things become less clear regarding overlap, competencies, and security eligibility. Let’s see. Regardless of any developments, we will keep our key messaging to DG CNECT of the European Commission loud and clear throughout, as they are our champions. Regarding how much money will be in the next Horizon Europe; I wouldn’t be surprised if it is very similar to what we see now, adjusted to inflation. Still, we won’t know that for another eighteen months, and much can change in such a time. The EU Liaison team will keep abreast of these developments.
What comes after the MFF negotiations?
Having been through this MFF cycle before, I would predict a return to trying to understand what the new strategic priorities of the next College of Commissioners will be, framing that within the appropriate iterations of the GN project(s) and returning our eye to regulatory or compliance-based analysis. But for now, getting our funding secured is the first priority.
