This EU-level report is the first 18-month review of the progress towards the priority areas for joint action in the European Research Area.
This inaugural EU-level report conducts an 18-month review of advancements in key areas within the European Research Area (ERA) as outlined in the Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe. It examines the implementation of the ERA Policy Agenda, aiming to enable informed policymaking and serves as a foundational reference for evaluating future progress at the EU level in the context of the ERA’s renewal in 2021 (see SwissCore article)
The creation of ERA has resulted in the free circulation of researchers, scientific knowledge and technology and thus became the fifth freedom in the EU, alongside the European single market of free circulation of goods, capital, services, and people. While all five freedoms are legal obligations agreed upon by all member states, the fifth freedom has been relegated to a largely voluntary approach. For ERA to thrive, it requires steady funding and supportive framework conditions. Identifying and removing legal obstacles that hinder the free movement of researchers, scientific knowledge, and technology is vital for ERA’s growth and success.
This initial report presents the starting point of the revamped ERA at EU-level by mapping trends towards achieving the ERA priorities over a longer period, outlining the implementation state of play of each ERA action set out in the ERA Policy Agenda 2022-2024 and providing insights related to Member States and associated countries.
The report finds that the ERA Policy Agenda 2022-24 is in full implementation mode. Several outcomes of ERA Actions have already been achieved, while others have even been completed. Furthermore, the ERA Forum has been proven to be a successful co-creation body, bringing together EU Member States, countries associated to Horizon Europe, R&I stakeholders and the European Commission, all joining their efforts to turn the new vision for the European Research Area into reality. However, amid these accomplishments, the report also sheds light on disparities in progress among different ERA priorities, signifying the need for nuanced approaches and focused attention on key areas. For instance, the first ERA priority ‘Deepening an Internal Market for Truly Functional Knowledge’ shows limited progress or stagnation. Furthermore, there is still variance in achieving the ERA objectives both on the country and EU levels, especially regarding knowledge valorisation, challenge-based ERA actions or synergies with education.
The assessment showcases that the EU, together with the Member States, Associated Countries and R&I stakeholders, have already made significant advancements within the different ERA Policy Agenda Actions. Specifically, these include the establishment of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (ERA Action 3), the preparation of a Council Recommendation on a ‘European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe’ in 2023 (ERA Action 4), the adoption of a Council Recommendation on the guiding principles for knowledge valorisation in 2022 (ERA Action 7) and the development of a new ERA monitoring and evaluation framework (ERA Action 19).
These results suggest the need for further concerted efforts at European and Member State levels, involving also Associated Countries and R&I stakeholders, to drive sustainable commitment and activities towards the achievement of the ERA priorities’ and the Actions’ objectives. As the inaugural ERA Policy Agenda continues its implementation journey, deliberations for the subsequent ERA Policy Agenda (2025-2027) are already underway. Preparatory dialogues within the ERA Forum and ERA Committee seek to chart a course, identifying actions that will shape the ERA’s trajectory from 2025 to 2027. Having said that, the scientific community is concerned that the current ERA process might drown in excessive details and a surplus of additional proposed actions for Agenda 25-27. Some of these actions might not significantly contribute to the EU’s fifth freedom.