European Research Area (ERA)
European Commissioner Philippe Busquin launched the idea of the European Research Area back in November 2000. “The problem is not money but fragmentation of the efforts carried out at European level,” he had said. “So it is imperative that we mobilise resources and create a movement towards coherence of research policies in Europe.”
This statement introduced the European Research Area (ERA), which aims to create a unified research area open to the world, and to enable the free circulation of researchers, scientific knowledge and technology. Most importantly, ERA is based on the European internal market.
Within ERA, National Action Plans are developed based on the following six priorities:
- More effective national research systems
- Optimal transnational cooperation and competition, including ‘jointly addressing grand challenges’ and ‘research infrastructures’
- An open labour market for researchers
- Gender equality and gender mainstreaming in research
- Optimal circulation, access and transfer of scientific knowledge
- International cooperation
Background and process
In 2014, 2 years after the adoption of its communication on a reinforced European Research Area (ERA) partnership the Commission reported that EU countries and stakeholders had made good progress in delivering the ERA but more effort would be needed.
In 2015, the European Council reaffirmed its commitment to a fully operational ERA and endorsed the ERA Roadmap 2015-2020. This is a living document to guide EU countries in structuring their implementation of the ERA priorities at national level.
It calls on EU members to implement the ERA roadmap through appropriate measures in ERA national action plans and strategies.
Monitoring of ERA roadmap implementation is integrated into the ERA progress reports, on the basis of headline indicators proposed by the European Research and Innovation Advisory Committee (ERAC)
A new Communication is planned for the third quarter 2020 and will aim at relaunching and revitalising the ERA in order to:
- make it future-proof
- make it better able to address the major challenges of the digital and green transition
- increase Europe’s resilience following the Covid-19 crisis.
News
-
€1.9 billion will be made available by the European Research Council (ERC) in 2021 to allow some 1,000 top researchers to pursue frontier research. As in previous years, most of the funding (66%) is earmarked...
-
EU to set up new European Partnerships
On 23 February 2021, the Commission published a proposal to set up 10 new European Partnerships between the European Union, Member States and/or industry. The partnerships aim to improve and accelerate...
-
COST online Info Day 23 February 2021
Joining a COST Action can initiate prospects going beyond the networking opportunities and research advancements. To keep fostering such openings and to encourage researchers to participate in COST activities...
[ Show all News ]
Events
-
EU Citizens' Interests - The European Green Deal
To support the European Commission in the implementation of the European Green Deal, the JRC created two sets of indicators drawing from six of the policy areas indicated by the European Commission. The...
-
European Research and Innovation Days
Brought to you by the European Commission, the European Research and Innovation Days gathers together policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs and citizens to debate and shape the future of research and...
-
European Researchers’ Night 2020
[ Show all Events ]
Calls
-
National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation of Albania is promoting an open call for 9 Early Stage Researchers Positions in the framework of the 6i Dirs COFUND, managed...
-
CERIC Call for Proposals now OPEN
-
Two extraordinary Erasmus+ calls for proposals
Two extraordinary Erasmus+ calls for proposals were launched on 25 August 2020 to support digital education readiness and creative skills. The calls each provide €100 million to respond to the coronavirus...
[ Show all Calls ]
Documents
-
Making Public Procurement work in and for Europe
This Communication of the European Commission presents a public procurement strategy which sets out the overall policy framework and defines clear priorities to improve procurement in practice and support...
-
Equity in school education in EuropeStructures, policies and student performance
This report provides an overview of education structures and policies that influence equity in school education.
-
From Brain Drain to attraction of valuable talents in the Western Balkans
The migration of able, highly educated individuals from the Western Balkans region, which has been happening since the 1990s is known as “brain drain” and usually concerns the European Union and the United...
[ Show all Documents ]
Links
-
European Research Area corona platform
The platform is a one-stop shop providing comprehensive information about funding opportunities in relation to Coronavirus at European Union and national level. It offers continuously updated information...