EC2U is a multi-cultural multi-lingual Alliance consisting of 7 long-standing, education- and research-led, locally and globally engaged universities from the 4 European regions. Its ambition is to develop an open and innovative space allowing free mobility among its universities and cities, forming a single community of 160000 students and 20000 staff, in direct reach to 1600000 citizens, thus overcoming clichéd views of regional and national identities. The Alliance will reach this ambition by creating a pan-European campus, connected by a sense of shared European identity, and by developing a smart higher education eco-system through a new model of quality education for an inclusive society. This unique model relies on the double vertical and horizontal integration strategy, producing synergies from education, research and innovation, promoting formal/non-formal/informal education, and involving academic communities, municipalities, higher education regulatory bodies, socio-economic entities, citizens. In 2023, the EC2U Alliance will be characterised by: - a joint governance with shared resources - a joint campus life with culture/sports events - customised joint Master programmes based on selected UNSDGs: Good health & well-being, Quality education, Sustainable cities & communities - drastically increased and geographically balanced mobility (physical, virtual, blended) of students and staff - Virtual Institutes (VIs) combining education, research and innovation in missions based on the aforementioned UNSDGs - a unique partnership between academia, cities and socio-economic stakeholders via the EC2U Forum. The target for 2030 is to reach a true pan-European campus with: - integrated governance and federal budget - inter-university campus life - European Diplomas and staff career plans with embedded/blended mobility - an extension of the Virtual Institute concept to the 17 UNSDGs - an annual EC2U Forum between academia and citizens - European/international impact