Research and innovation are two crucial factors for Europe’s growth. In this declaration LERU’s Universities assessed the status of these two factors and their contribution to the re-launch of the Lisbon Strategy. The Lisbon Strategy is vital for the shift to growth, however, fundamental research has increasingly become a major driver of innovation and competitiveness. This need for structural reinvigoration of fundamental research led to the Commission’s proposal to create a European Research Council as part of Framework Programme 7. LERU strongly supports this idea, but advocates some points, e.g. the Rectors of LERU Universities urge the European Commission, the Parliament and the European Council to act in the interest of Europe’s future by strengthening the knowledge base in accordance with the principles of the Lisbon Strategy.