Finalisation of the ERA Policy Agenda 2022-24: a milestone for collaboration in the European Research Area

After the revamp of the European Research Area (ERA) in 2021, the actions of the first ERA Policy Agenda served as a three-year roadmap aimed at coordinating efforts to achieve progress in topics such as promoting open science principles and reforming research assessment. These ERA actions translate the priority areas for joint action of the Pact for research and innovation (R&I) into tangible activities and outcomes, contributing to the EU countries’ long-term vision for cooperation in this area.

Over the past three years, significant progress has been made. The ERA Forum and its sub-groups have proven to be successful co-creation bodies, bringing together the Commission, European countries and stakeholders to coordinate the implementation of the ERA actions. Some highlights include: 

• Action 4: Strengthen Research Careers

  ResearchComp, the European Competence Framework for Researchers, assists researchers in evaluating and enhancing their transversal skills by identifying 38 key competences across seven areas to promote career development within academia and beyond. 
   

• Action 12: Accelerate the green/digital transition of Europe’s key industrial ecosystems

  Adopting industrial technology roadmaps strengthens Europe’s industrial leadership in key technology areas by fostering strategic coordination, promoting the development of sustainable technologies, building strategic autonomy by identifying critical technologies and mobilising public and private investments. Companies can now benefit from concrete proposals that give them easier access to Technology Infrastructures, so that they can become stronger innovators and reach the market from the lab much faster.
   

• Action 19: Establish an ERA Monitoring system

  The ERA Policy Platform contains all the information around the ERA Policy to connect and help create evidence-informed policy. This includes EU-level and country reports, progress indicators, as well as news and events.
   

What comes next? The adoption of the second ERA Policy Agenda 2025-27 is expected in the first half of 2025, so that the implementation of the ERA activities can continue. The preparatory work was supported by the ERA Forum over the past 18 months. 

Background

The European Research Area (ERA) aims to create a unified research and innovation market by aligning national and EU policies, improving research infrastructures, and promoting open science and international collaboration. The ERA was officially launched in 2000 following its proposal by the European Commission in a communication titled ‘Towards a European Research Area’, further endorsed by the European Council and is enshrined as an objective in Article 179 of the Lisbon Treaty. 

The current ERA policy framework is the result of a revitalisation process, started in 2021, which led to a new ERA governance, the Pact for R&I and the first ERA Policy Agenda 2022-24. This year marks 25 years of working together to achieve a single market for research and innovation, continuing to work on structural, economic and policy change in the ERA.

More information

European Research Area Platform

ERA Policy Agenda 2022-24