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

The European Commission has made available the report on the implementation of the European Research Area (ERA) Policy Agenda, which covers the first 18 months of implementation of the current governance, marking a crucial moment in the journey for 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 sub-groups proving to be effective in co-creating and implementing policies. While a longer period is needed for more concrete assessments of Europe's progress in achieving the Pact's priorities, significant progress is already evident in several of the Agenda's action areas.

Among the highlights of the report are the development of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), which has reached the milestone of 1 billion euros in funding in the 2021-2023 period, the creation of the Coalition to Advance Research Assessment (CoARA), which FCT is a member of, as well as the drafting of a Council Recommendation on a European framework for attracting and retaining research, innovation and entrepreneurship talent in Europe, the final approval of which is expected to take place 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, focused on values, governance, partnerships and cybersecurity, as well as initiatives to boost the green energy transformation, such as the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda on green hydrogen.

The full report is available to download from the European Union's official website, offering a detailed overview of the efforts and achievements to date, as well as the next steps in the implementation of the ERA Agenda. You can also consult the executive summary provided 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, you can visit the FCT website.

Photo credit: European Commission