Universities look to EU’s €800B COVID-19 recovery fund to upgrade campuses 01 Jun 2021 | News Investments in lower-cost, greener buildings will help universities balance their budgets and contribute to the EU’s overarching plan to become carbon neutral by 2050 Virginie Dupont, vice president of the Conference of University Presidents (CPU). Photo: Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer website As of today, 22 EU member states have submitted national plans for their share of the EU’s pandemic recovery fund, with a number looking for money to modernise university campuses, reducing the energy footprint and cutting maintenance costs. The recovery fund prioritises project that promote the green transition and digitalisation. The money needs to be spent over the next four years, meaning universities that have already drawn up improvement plans which fit these priorities stand to benefit the most from the €800 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility, the key instrument in the EU plan for emerging stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic.