On Friday 23rd, the Council of the EU and the European Commission endorsed the next ERA Policy Agenda 2025-2027.

The ERA policy agenda is a comprehensive roadmap for enhancing Europe’s research and innovation (R&I) ecosystem, addressing key challenges like knowledge mobility, sustainability and international competitiveness, while ensuring measurable outcomes and broad voluntary participation by Member States and stakeholders.

The second ERA Policy Agenda outlines voluntary activities for the European Research Area (ERA) from 2025 to 2027. Similar to the first ERA Policy Agenda 2022-24, these activities aim to transform the priority areas set by the Pact for Research and Innovation (R&I) in Europe into concrete activities, bringing EU Member States, countries associated to Horizon Europe, R&I stakeholders and the Commission together to make the ERA a reality.

You can find more information on the ERA Policy Platform.

The ERA Policy Agenda 2025-2027 has three main building blocks (see image below):

• The policy narrative sets the scene for the broader goals and ambitions and highlights the achievements and lessons learnt.
• 11 structural policies outline long-term undertakings, embedded in national and European policy, such as open science, research infrastructures and research careers. While their vision requires efforts beyond the three-year work cycle, they still have specific objectives and a work plan to be achieved within the ERA Policy Agenda.
• 8 ERA actions are filling specific gaps on new or emerging issues, such as artificial intelligence in science. They have  time-bound objectives or are piloting an initiative, such as research security. 

The 19 ERA activities have emerged from a unique collaborative process.  EU Member States, the European Commission, countries associated to Horizon Europe, and R&I stakeholders have teamed up to shape the ERA Policy Agenda 2025-2027. This process took place within the ERA Forum, guided strategically by the European Research Area and Innovation Committee (ERAC).

A case for science to choose Europe

The European Union is stepping up to become the world’s most attractive destination for researchers and innovators, offering them attractive careers as well as excellent working and living conditions. During the unveiling of the new ERA policy, Commissioner Zaharieva also presented the ‘Choose Europe for Science initiative’, which highlights billions of euros worth of opportunities in Europe, and is available for researchers at every stage of their careers. 

Commissioner Zaharieva said:

“Europe is choosing science, and we are making the case for science to choose Europe. Funding and support are available at European, national and regional level. We are bringing everything together in one place so that international researchers can become active players on team Europe.”

To make it easier for researchers to navigate the variety of funding opportunities available across the Union, a snapshot of initiatives in the EU to support researchers worldwide has been published.