Council endorses the European research area policy agenda for the next three years
The Council has today reached a political agreement on a council recommendation to adopt the European Research Area (ERA) Policy Agenda 2025–2027.
The ERA policy agenda is a comprehensive roadmap for enhancing Europe’s research and innovation (R&I) ecosystem, addressing key challenges like knowledge mobility, sustainability and international competitiveness, while ensuring measurable outcomes and broad voluntary participation by Member States and stakeholders.
For 25 years, the ERA has helped the research and innovation community to coordinate their efforts and to achieve amazing results. The Policy Agenda for 2025–2027 will be the roadmap to navigate this common space: a true liberty of movement for researchers in the biggest research and innovation ecosystem of the world.
Marcin Kulasek, Polish minister of science and higher education
The agenda is designed around 11 ERA structural policies and 8 ERA actions, with a focus respectively on long-term efforts and short-term goals. These initiatives will be carried out voluntarily by the Member States on the basis of the variable geometry principle, allowing flexibility to participate.
The ERA Policy Agenda is key to implementing ERA priorities and to coordinate the work of the European Commission, Member States, associated countries and stakeholders.
Key features of the Policy Agenda
The recommendation sets up the main ERA structural policies and ERA actions of the Policy Agenda. The ERA structural policies are long-term activities that require coordination between member states, the European Commission and stakeholders, aiming for measurable outcomes within three years. They focus on areas such as:
Open science, gender equality and career sustainability in R&I
Strengthening research infrastructures and international collaboration
Reforming research assessments and boosting knowledge valorisation
ERA actions are specific, goal-oriented initiatives designed to deliver direct and measurable value and they should be completed within the three-year timeframe. Some examples include:
Promoting equity in open science
Advancing AI in scientific research
Enhancing research security
The ERA structural policies and ERA actions are organised upon the four priority areas, as set out in the pact for R&I in Europe:
Internal market for knowledge: Focusing on the free movement of researchers, data and ideas to boost the EU’s international competitiveness and address fragmentation in European research.
Green and digital transitions: Promoting R&I to address societal challenges, with actions such as enhancing energy technology and improving citizen participation in science.
Access to research excellence: Aiming to reduce disparities in R&I opportunities and empower research management across the EU.
Research and innovation investments: Focusing on transnational cooperation and avoiding fragmentation in R&I funding to boost EU’s innovation capacity.
Monitoring and implementation
According to the recommendation, the ERA Forum and the European research and innovation area committee (ERAC) will guide the strategic and governance aspects of the agenda, ensuring inclusive, transparent and coordinated implementation. Member states are encouraged to collaborate with stakeholders, including the private sector and civil society, to support the agenda’s goals.
Background
TheEuropean research area was launched in 2000 with the aim of creating a single market for research and innovation to encourage the free movement of researchers, scientific knowledge and innovation, and fostering a more competitive European industry.
Recommendations are non-binding EU acts foreseen in Article 288 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. They allow the EU institutions to make their views known and to suggest a line of action without imposing any legal obligation on those to whom it is addressed.
