International Cooperation

European Research Area & European R&I Programs

The European Research Area (ERA) was launched in 2000, in the context of the Lisbon Strategy, with the aim of tackling the fragmentation of European Research & Innovation (R&I) systems. ERA aims to be a unified area for research, promoting the circulation of researchers, scientific knowledge and technology within the European Union, thus also contributing to the competitiveness of European industry, through competitive, open and talent-driven science and innovation based on excellence.

Launched in 2020, the new ERA aims to improve Europe's R&I landscape, accelerate the EU's transition towards climate neutrality and digital leadership, support its recovery from the societal and economic impact of the coronavirus crisis, and strengthen its resilience against future crises. The New ERA has four main strategic objectives:

Prioritise investments and reforms in R&I towards the green and digital transition, to support Europe's recovery and increase competitiveness.
Improve access to excellent facilities and infrastructures for researchers across the EU.
Transfer results to the economy to boost business investments and market uptake of research output, as well as foster EU competitiveness and leadership in the global technological setting.
Strengthen mobility of researchers and free flow of knowledge and technology, through greater cooperation among Member States, to ensure that everyone benefits from research and its results.

FCT supports the participation of researchers from the National Science and Technology System in the different axes of ERA, namely: