First assessment of the implementation of the European Research Area highlights remarkable progress

The European Commission has released its report on the implementation of the European Research Area (ERA) Policy Agenda, covering the first 18 months of implementation of the current governance, marking a crucial moment in the journey towards research and innovation in Europe.

This report, prepared in close collaboration with the ERA Forum, serves as an initial assessment of progress in the priority areas for joint action set out in the Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe, adopted on November 26, 2021.

The main conclusions of this report indicate that the Agenda is being fully implemented, with the ERA Forum and its subgroups proving effective in co-creating and implementing policies. Although a longer period is needed for more concrete assessments of Europe's progress in achieving the Pact's priorities, significant advances are already evident in several areas of action of the Agenda.

Among the highlights of the report are the development of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), which reached the milestone of €1 billion in funding for the period 2021-2023, the creation of the Coalition to Advance Research Assessment (CoARA), of which FCT is a member, and the drafting of a Council Recommendation on a European framework to attract and retain talent in research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Europe, which is expected to be finally approved at the EU Council meeting on December 8, 2023.

In addition, the report mentions the adoption of a comprehensive strategy to combat foreign interference in EU higher education institutions and research organizations, focusing on values, governance, partnerships, and cybersecurity, as well as initiatives to drive green energy transformation, such as the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda on green hydrogen.

The full report is available for download on the official website of the European Union, offering a detailed overview of efforts and achievements to date, as well as the next steps in implementing the ERA Agenda. You can also consult the executive summary available with the main highlights.

This initial assessment is a significant milestone in Europe's ongoing commitment to research and innovation, signaling a promising future for scientific collaboration and technological advancement on the continent.

For more information on the European Research Area, please visit the FCT website.

Photo credit: European Commission