The 2018 ERA Progress Report was recently released. It lists the progress of EU Member States and Associated Countries towards the six ERA priorities.
This is the fourth ERA Progress Report since the launch of the European Research Area (ERA) in 2012. The report covers the period 2016 to 2018 and considers a series of 24 indicators over the six priority ERA priorities, which are:
- 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 to and transfer of scientific knowledge, including ‘knowledge circulation’ and ‘open access’; and
- international cooperation.
Broadly speaking, the report notes that there is progress, although at a slower pace than expected. Also, the report points out that major differences between countries still exist. With the report, the EC calls for a “a renewed commitment to (i) further strengthening shared efforts at all levels; (ii) reforming national research and innovation systems; and (iii) realising a well-functioning ERA”.
Looking at headline indicators for individual countries, Switzerland tops the rankings on a series of indicators linked to ERA priority 1, such as “Adjusted Research Excellence” or the European Innovation Scoreboard Index. It is also leading the ranking on the share of public funding awarded to international research and development programmes and the number of public-private co-publications (ERA prioritiy 5). Switzerland does not score so well, however, on indicators related to gender equality and gender mainstreaming in research. Still, generally speaking, the report offers a very positive assessment of progress for Switzerland towards the ERA objectives.
Work towards the completion of the ERA will continue, in line with the 2015-2020 ERA Roadmap. The European Commission calls on the EU Member States and Associated Countries to continue developing National Action Plans and work towards better alignment and coordination of national policies in order to close the gap between leading and lagging countries in Europe.