Political Agenda of the European Research Area – ERA

In September 2020, the European Commission adopted aCommunication on the renewal of the ERA, which was the subject ofCouncil Conclusionsstating that the new ERA should embodya joint vision that would guarantee the role of R&I as such and also in the design and implementation of relevant sectoral policies, as well as the intensification of concrete actions in the field of R&I, increased political commitment, and the enhancement of existing financing instruments in pursuit of a common agenda. The objectives of the new ERA are:

• Prioritize investments and reforms in R&I to facilitate the green and digital transitions, support Europe's recovery, and boost its competitiveness.
• Improving researchers' access to excellent facilities and infrastructure across the EU.
• Transferring results to the economy in order to boost business investment and market uptake of research results, as well as promoting EU competitiveness and leadership in the global technology landscape.
• Enhance the mobility of researchers and the free circulation of knowledge and technology through greater cooperation between Member States, so that everyone can benefit from research and its results.

In July 2021, the European Commission presented aRecommendation for a Pact for R&I in Europe, whose main objective was to promote greater integration of national R&I policies in the EU based on the definition of principles and values associated with areas of joint action in combination with the mobilization of national reforms and investments. In November 2021, this Recommendation wasapproved by the Council of the EU, together with the respective Conclusions on the future governance of the ERA.

The final chapter ofthe Council Conclusionsdealt with policy coordination, including the definition of anERA Policy Agenda(translating voluntary actions at Union and Member State level into the priorities identified in the Pact) and a monitoring and follow-up mechanism (consisting of an online platform dedicated to the ERA, a scoreboard with indicators to measure progress, and regular policy dialogues).

EEI Actions 2022-24

The ERA Policy Agenda is designed to contribute to the priority areas of the European Research and Innovation Pact, covering the diversity of national and regional policy contexts and employing an adaptive approach, to be approved by the Council every three years as a dynamic document that can be adjusted periodically. The priority areas of the new ERA correspond to those where there is broad commitment and for which actions led by Member States and the Commission have been planned, with only those actions involving at least half of the EU Member States being implemented.

The final list of actions that make upthe EEI 2022-24 Political Agenda, distributed across the corresponding priority areas, is as follows:

Priority Area “Deepening an internal market for truly functional knowledge”

1. Empowering Open Science
2. EU Data and Copyright Legislative Framework
3. Reform of research evaluation
4. Research careers, talent circulation, and mobility
5. Gender equality and inclusion
6. Protecting academic freedom in Europe
7. Valuing knowledge
8. Strengthening Research Infrastructure
9. Promote international cooperation

Priority Area “Jointly addressing the challenges posed by the dual ecological and digital transition and increasing society’s participation in the EEI”

10. Missions and partnerships
11. Climate transition
12. Accelerating the climate and digital transition
13. Empowering higher education institutions
14. Bringing science closer to citizens

Priority Area “Expanding access to excellence in research and innovation across the EU”

16. Improving access to excellence across the EU
17. Strengthen the strategic capacity of public research institutions

Priority Area “Proceed with concerted investments and reforms in research and innovation”

19. EEA monitoring mechanism

Portugal has committed to all the EEI actions listed, following preparatory work carried out by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the National Innovation Agency (ANI), which culminated in analysis and validation by the MCTES Office.

Governance of the new EEI

In terms of governance, the Council Conclusions reaffirm the role ofthe European Research and Innovation Area Committee(ERAC) as the joint high-level strategic policy advisory committee (providing prior advice to the Council, the Commission, and Member States on strategic R&I policy issues). They also recognize the newly created ERA Forum (a Commission expert group with representatives from Member States and EFTA/EEA countries) as the body responsible for coordinating the effective implementation of the ERA Policy Agenda, supporting the Commission and Member States in delivering ERA actions.

The Council Conclusions also provide for the existence of EES Forum sub-groups tasked with assisting in the implementation of the EES Policy Agenda. To date, three governance structures or sub-groups and one permanent sub-group have been recognized, although others are already planned:

European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI)

ESFRIis a forum where Member States, the European Commission, and Associated Countries establish strategies for coordinating European research infrastructures. ESFRI is responsible for creating, updating, and monitoring the ESFRI Roadmap, which identifies research infrastructures of European interest in various scientific areas, thus providing clear guidance for public policies on funding these infrastructures. Within the scope of the ERA Policy Agenda, ESFRI will coordinate the implementation of ERA Action 8 – Strengthening Research Infrastructures. For more information, visit theFCT website page dedicated to ESFRI.

National Delegate: Marta Abrantes (FCT)

European Open Science Cloud (EOSC)

Ensuring a common research data platform where information is searchable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable is the ultimate goal of theEuropean Open Science Cloud (EOSC), enabling the promotion of "interdisciplinary and impactful science in the context of the digital age." Within the scope of the ERA Policy Agenda, the EOSC will coordinate the implementation of ERA action "1 - Enabling Open Science."

National Delegate: João Moreira (FCCN)

Partnership Knowledge Hub (PKH)

The group's mission is to advise the Commission on the implementation of the strategic coordination process for EU R&I partnerships and to provide a forum for coordination and cooperation with Member States and stakeholders. The group will contribute to ensuring strategic oversight of the partnership portfolio and the progress made by European Partnerships in achieving ambitious goals and maximizing the impact of joint investments made through partnerships. Within the ERA Policy Agenda, the PKH will coordinate the implementation of the partnerships component of ERA Action 10 – Missions and Partnerships.

National Delegates: Sofia Azevedo (ANI), Alexandre Maurício (FCT)

EEI Permanent Subgroup on the Global Approach to R&I

The subgroup's tasks consist of advising the Commission services on the design, implementation, and evaluation of international cooperation approaches and actions in R&I, as well as establishing coordination between the Commission and Member States and stakeholders and exchanging experiences and good practices in the field of international cooperation in R&I, including at the multilateral level. The subgroup is co-chaired by a Member State and the Commission and will continue the work carried out by the Strategic Forum for International Cooperation in Science and Technology (SFIC). Within the ERA Policy Agenda, the subgroup will coordinate the implementation of ERA action "9 - Promote international cooperation."

National Delegate: Rosário Costa (FCT)

The Euraxess Network – Researchers on the Move

The Euraxess Network – Researchers in Motion is a European Commission initiative that promotes researcher mobility, integrating 43 members and structured into Euraxess Centers, National Portals, a global Euraxess Portal, and 9 international Hubs to disseminate opportunities in the European Research Area (ERA). The Centers support researchers and families in mobility, while the portals provide information on jobs, legislation, and conditions in the countries of the network. Euraxess also promotes the European Commission's Human Resources Strategy, facilitating access to the "HR Excellence in Research Award." In Portugal, FCT coordinates the network and provides information on procedures and legislation through the Euraxess Portugal Portal.

National Delegate: Ana Margarida Santos (FCT)