european research area policy agenda

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European Research Area policy agenda

Overview of actions for the period 2022-2024, publication metadata, available languages and formats, english (en).

• Publication details
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• Published: 2022
• Corporate author(s): Directorate-General for Research and Innovation ( European Commission )
• Themes: Research policy and organisation , Activities of the institutions and bodies
• Subject: copyright , EU research policy , EU strategy , higher education , industry-research relations , innovation , open science , organisation of research , performance measurement , research and development , research expenditure (EU) , research programme
• Released on EU Publications: 2022-03-03

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• European Research Area

A new ERA for Research and Innovation

The European Research Area (ERA) aims to increase collaboration between the national research systems and to ensure better policy coordination between the Member States and the EU. Originally launched in 2000, the ERA was renewed in 2020, starting with the adoption of the Commission’s Communication on A new ERA for Research and Innovation . The revitalised ERA’s ambition is to better address the societal, ecological and economic challenges, based on three pillars established in November 2021: new ERA governance involving the ERA Forum; adoption of a Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe ; and a new ERA Policy Agenda with 20 concrete ERA actions for 2022-2024.

In this frame, the ERA Forum serves for the Commission and EU countries to co-design and coordinate the implementation of the ERA actions, prepare future updates of the policy agenda and ensure the involvement of relevant stakeholders.

ERRIN's recommendations on the future of the European Research Area

• ERRIN's work on ERA
• Activity highlights

ERRIN's work on ERA

ERRIN has been observing ERA since before the start of the renewal process and actively contributing to its developments, including to the Commission’s Communication from 2020. ERRIN welcomed the communication, where multi-level governance and a systemic approach are key components. The network is an active stakeholder in the ERA Forum, within the Research and Technology Performing Organisations (RTPO) category. Regarding the ERA Policy Agenda 2022-2024 , as an organisation, we are committed to the following ERA actions, linking to EU Missions and Widening as two main network priorities:

• Action 10: sub-action on EU Missions
• Action 11: sub-action on ERA4FutureWork
• Action 15: Regional and national R&I ecosystems (ERA Hubs)
• Action 16: Access to excellence

ERA Action 15 and a pilot project dedicated to the ERA Hubs concept and rollout are of particular interest to ERRIN. ERA Hubs are an opportunity to create a framework for both multi-level governance and multi-stakeholder approach, whose role in addressing societal challenges is increasingly recognised. This action should also be seen as an essential foundation and point of reference for supporting more thematic ecosystem approaches such as Hydrogen Valleys or Renewable Energy Valleys.

Linking to Action 16, since 2023 ERRIN is part of a new ERA Forum sub-group ‘Access to excellence’ – ‘R&I and Cohesion Managing Authorities’ Network (RIMA) launched to kick-off its implementation.

Moreover, ERRIN aims to follow a number of other ERA actions, such as action 12: Accelerate the green/digital transition of Europe’s key industrial ecosystems.

Currently, we are also involved in the process of shaping the next ERA Policy Agenda 2025-2027 in the ERA Forum, engaging ERRIN members in the reflections.

Furthermore, our network is a partner of the Knowledge Exchange Platform , relaunched as KEP 2.0 in 2020 to support regions and cities in promoting science and research locally.

Since 2020 ERRIN has formulated several input papers concerning the ERA including on the future of the ERA in June 2020, on the ERA governance in April 2021 and on the roll-out of ERA Hubs in October 2021. Over the years, multiple meetings around ERA have been organised by the ERRIN Policy Working Group, with most recent ones in 2023 on ERA Policy Agenda going forward ; and on ERA Hubs: Defining the concept .

In 2023, Two European projects were launched under the call “ Testing of the ERA Hub concept – pilot phase ” – ERA FABRIC and COOPERATE – both led by ERRIN members. ERRIN Director Pirita Lindholm is currently part of the ERA_FABRIC Advisory Board.

Regarding ERRIN’s involvement in the process of developing the next ERA Policy Agenda 2025-2027, the network has so far submitted an initial contribution to the gap analysis in 2023 and answered ERA Forum survey to evaluate the proposed new ERA Actions in January 2024, while remaining actively involved in the ERA Forum meeting discussions.

ERRIN's policy messages

To strengthen and make the ERA more impactful, the following points should be considered:

• Broadening the scope of ERA by explicitly including innovation
• Integrating a place-based research and innovation ecosystem approach
• Applying a truly multi-level governance model where the regional and local levels are included
• Creating a working group to further elaborate the ERA Hubs, to bring the ecosystem perspective to the ERA to map existing initiatives, structures and networks; create a better understanding of the local and regional research and innovation ecosystems; and identify gaps and areas where further support should be provided to ecosystems.

Moreover, with regard to the ERA Forum, ERRIN recommends:

• Improving overall organisation of the stakeholder engagement, which should be much more flexible in the ERA Forum and the specific ERA actions, including the revision of the stakeholder categories
• Strengthening communication and involvement of stakeholders at member state level
• Increasing ownership and engagement of the stakeholders in individual actions
• Further focusing of the work of the Forum and limiting the number of the ERA actions that require active engagement of everyone
• Co-creating the core set of ERA policy actions within the ERA Forum

Latest Updates

• By Ewa Chomicz

NEIA implementation report & Regional Innovation Valleys update

On 20 March, the Commission published the first report on the state of play of the New European Innovation Agenda, following its launch in July 2022. The document outlines the progress and achievements with regard to the 25 actions under Agenda’s five flagships, including the Regional Innovation Valleys. On the same day, an EU R&I Days debate on the way forward for RIVs was also held.

Horizon Europe strategic plan 2025-2027 is out

On 20 March, the Commission adopted the second Horizon Europe strategic plan. The plan sets out three key strategic orientations for the EU's research and innovation funding for the last three years of the programme (2025-2027). Find out what novelties the new strategic plan brings.

Call for short position papers on HE & FP10 from the Commission Expert Group on the Interim Evaluation of Horizon Europe

The Expert Group on the Interim Evaluation of Horizon Europe, which will advise the Commission on the future European Framework Programme for R&I (FP10), is calling for 2-page position papers from institutional actors addressing four predefined questions. The aim is to further involve key stakeholders in the Group's work, benefiting from their insights and feedback.

• By jessica mitchell

Coventry University Open for MSCA PF Fellows

Marie Skłodowska Curie (MSCA) European Postdoctoral Fellowships​ - If you are looking to grow in your research profile, keen to boost your career prospects and ready to be part of our thriving research environment, Coventry University invites you to get in touch about suitability for the following MSCA postdoctoral European fellowships at our Coventry campus.​

Marching towards FP10 – ERRIN activity update

As we enter March and approach the European R&I Days, several ERRIN activities planned for 2024 with a link to FP10 have already taken place, and more are on their way. Have a look at an update with the outcomes of our recent work on the next European Framework Programme for R&I, next steps and opportunities to get involved.

EU's Knowledge Ecosystems: A Regional Stakeholder Survey

The ERA FABRIC project, which aims to define the ERA Hubs concept across Europe, launched a survey for regional stakeholders to identify the most recurrent characteristics and parameters of excellence of European knowledge ecosystems. ERA Hubs concept remains of particular interest for ERRIN. The survey will be open until 10 March 2024.

Conference on the new European Research Area

Today and tomorrow, the conference “New European Research Area – Towards Responsible Knowledge-Driven Society of the 3rd Millenium” takes place in Brdo, Slovenia.

Based on excellence, competitive, open and talent-driven, the new European Research Area  will improve Europe's research and innovation landscape, accelerate the green and digital transition, support the EU’s recovery from the coronavirus crisis, and strengthen its resilience against future crises.

Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth said:

The European Research Area provides the foundation for research and innovation cooperation in Europe and beyond. Realising a more impactful ERA is only possible if we are all working together. I very much welcome this conference as a great opportunity for exchange with Member States, stakeholder communities, industrial sectors and policymakers at all levels.

The event comes at a timely moment, as the first two milestones of the new European Research Area – the Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe and the new ERA governance framework, including the first ERA policy agenda – are expected at the end of November. The contribution of stakeholders to the discussions are crucial to make the new ERA a success.

Commissioner Mariya Gabriel and Simona Kustec, Slovenian Minister of Education, Science and Sport, will open the event, followed by a ministerial roundtable. On the second day, stakeholder workshops on ERA in relation to Research Infrastructures, prospective research careers, open science and the economy give the opportunity to focus on different aspects of the proposed Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe and the new ERA policy agenda.

The Commission Communication on “A new ERA for Research and Innovation” of September 2020, endorsed by Council Conclusions on the new ERA in December 2020, set out the new vision for the ERA. It includes four strategic objectives:

• Prioritise investments and reforms in research and innovation;
• Improve access to excellent facilities and infrastructures for researchers across the EU;
• Boost the market uptake of research and innovation results;
• Strengthen the mobility of researchers and free flow of knowledge and technology.

In 2021, the ERA Forum for Transition was established. It is an informal Commission expert group, where the Commission, Member States’ and European Economic Area country experts together kick-started the work on the new ERA.

Publication: Women in fisheries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region

A new study has been published, which aims to narrow research gaps this study aims at narrowing research gaps regarding gender and fisheries, as well as supporting the commitments of Mediterranean and Black Sea countries to promoting gender equality. The publication; 'Women in fisheries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region: roles, challenges and opportunities' is published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) .

The study highlights the role that women play throughout the fisheries value chain in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, including participating in pre-harvest activities like vessel and gear construction and maintenance, harvest activities both on board fishing vessels and from shore, and post-harvest activities such as sorting, cleaning, processing and marketing the catch, as well as in activities associated with running the fishing business, such as bookkeeping. Furthermore, women are actively engaged throughout the region in fisheries research and fisheries administration.

Despite the wide and varied roles played by women in fisheries, their contributions to the sector are often not captured in official statistics. Therefore, they can go unrecognised, reinforcing existing gender inequalities and potentially leading to inadvertent discrimination. At the same time, a lack of consideration for women working in the sector can also mean their knowledge and experience are overlooked and not sufficiently profited from. 

The study addressed the importance of taking the roles, needs and experiences of women into account when addressing social, economic and environmental issues related to the fishing sector.

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Interest rate benchmarks

Interest rate benchmarks are essential for the smooth functioning of the financial market and are widely used by banks and other market participants. The ECB also relies on benchmarks when operationalising and monitoring the transmission of its monetary policy.

Interest rate benchmarks are currently undergoing in-depth reforms. The ECB decided to take action as benchmark rates have an important anchoring role for contracts in financial markets. The ECB has launched two initiatives in this field:

• the development of a daily euro unsecured overnight interest rate, called the euro short-term rate (€STR)
• the set-up of an industry working group, together with other European institutions, tasked with identifying alternative risk-free rates for widespread adoption

Euro short-term rate (€STR)

The ECB decided to develop a euro short-term rate (€STR), which will reflect the wholesale euro unsecured overnight borrowing costs of euro area banks. The €STR will complement existing benchmark rates produced by the private sector and will be available by October 2019 at the latest.

To ensure transparent communication, the ECB is committed to consulting the public at various stages. Two public consultations have been held and a summary of responses was published for each.

The calculation method is now also available, as well as preliminary figures, referred to as the pre-€STR.

Working group on euro risk-free rates

This working group was set up to identify and recommend alternative risk-free rates. It is an industry-led group, chaired by a representative from the private sector. The ECB provides the secretariat.

On 13 September 2018 the working group agreed on the euro short-term rate as the most appropriate rate and encourages market participants to prepare for the transition to the new rate.

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