Abstract Knowledge-based society, sustainable development, and digital technology as concepts of the contemporary times that stem from the responsibility towards the future of mankind, are the results of intense scientific research. As a consequence of its commitment of turning Europe into the world's most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy, and aware of the role played by research in the development the human society, the EU has defined at Lisbon in 2000 the framework of action to enhance the status of research as a leading progress factor. The paper focuses on the general framework of sustainable development research in the EU and intends to substantiate the essential attributes that result from the public and institutional consulting process at regional level, using as main source the document The European Research Area: New Perspectives. A survey is performed in order to analyze the "Gh. Asachi" Technical University's teaching staff's opinions on the sustainable development research strategies defined in EU documents.