International Cooperation

European Research Area (ERA) Policy Agenda

In September 2020, the European Commission adopted a Communication on a new ERA for Research and Innovation which was the subject of Council Conclusions in which it is stated that the new ERA should be embodied in a joint vision that guarantees the role of R&I and also in the design and implementation of relevant sectoral policies, as well as intensifying concrete actions in terms of R&I, increasing political commitment and leveraging existing financing instruments in pursuit of a common agenda. The objectives of the new ERA are:

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;

In July 2021, the European Commission presented a Recommendation 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 common principles and values, areas of joint action and mobilizing national reforms and investments. In November 2021 this Recommendation was approved by the Council of the EU, together with the respective Conclusions on the future governance of ERA.

The last chapter of the Council Conclusions dealt with policy coordination, comprising the definition of an ERA Policy Agenda (translating voluntary actions at UE and Member States level regarding the priorities identified in the Pact) and a monitoring mechanism (consisting of an online platform dedicated to ERA, a scoreboard and a dashboard with indicators to measure progress and regular policy dialogues).

ERA Actions 2022-24

The ERA Policy Agenda was designed to contribute to the priority areas of the Pact for R&I in Europe, embracing the diversity of national and regional policy contexts and employing an adaptive approach, to be adopted by the Council every three years, as a dynamic document that can be periodically adjusted. The priority areas of the new ERA correspond to those where there is a broad commitment and for which actions led by the Member States and the Commission have been envisaged, and only those actions involving at least half of the EU Member States will be implemented.

The final list of actions of the 2022-24 ERA Policy Agenda, distributed by the corresponding priority areas, is the following:

Priority Area “Deepening a truly functioning internal market for knowledge”

1. Open science
2. EU copyright and data legislative framework
3. Reform of research assessment
4. Research careers, talent circulation and mobility
5. Gender equality and inclusiveness
6. Protect academic freedom in Europe
7. Knowledge valorisation
8. Strengthen research infrastructures
9. Promote international cooperation

Priority Area “Taking up together the challenges posed by the twin green and digital transition, and increasing society’s participation in the ERA”

10. Missions and partnerships
11. Green transformation
12. Accelerate the green/digital transformation
13. Empower higher education institutions
14. Bring science closer to citizens

Priority Area “Amplifying access to research and innovation excellence across the Union”

16. Improve EU-wide access to excellence
17. Enhance public research institutions’ strategic capacity

Priority Area “Advancing concerted research and innovation investments and reforms”

19. ERA monitoring mechanism

Portugal committed to all the ERA listed actions, following preparatory work carried out by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the National Innovation Agency (ANI) and which concluded with the analysis and validation by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education Office.

New ERA Governance

In terms of governance, the Council Conclusions reaffirm the role of the European Research Area and Innovation Committee (ERAC) as the high-level strategic policy joint advisory committee (providing early advice to the Council, the Commission and the Member States on strategic R&I policy issues). They also recognise the newly created ERA Forum (Commission expert group to which Member States and EFTA/EEA countries send representatives) as the body responsible for enhancing coordination towards the effective implementation of the ERA Policy Agenda, supporting the Commission and the Member States in the delivery of the ERA Actions.

The Council Conclusions also foresee several ERA Forum sub-groups for assisting in the effective implementation of the ERA Policy Agenda. Currently three governance structures or subgroups and one standing subgroup are recognised, although others are already foreseen:

European Strategic Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI)
- ESFRI is a forum where Member States, the European Commission and Associated countries define strategies to coordinate the European research infrastructures. ESFRI is responsible for the creation, update and monitoring of the ESFRI Roadmap, where research infrastructures of European interest, in different scientific areas, are identified, thus providing clear guidance for the public funding policies for these infrastructures. Within the framework of the ERA Policy Agenda, ESFRI will coordinate the implementation of the ERA action “8 - Strengthen research infrastructures”. For more information visit FCT's 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 the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), making it possible to promote an "interdisciplinary and impactful science in the context of the digital age". Within the framework of the ERA Policy Agenda, EOSC will coordinate the implementation of the ERA action “1 - Open science”.
- National Delegate:
- João Moreira (FCCN)

Partnership Knowledge Hub (PKH)
- The group’s mission is to advise the Commission in the implementation of the strategic coordinating process for EU R&I partnerships, and to provide a forum for coordination and cooperation with Member States and related stakeholders. The group will contribute to ensuring a strategic oversight of the partnership portfolio, the progress made by European Partnerships in delivering ambitious objectives and maximising the impact of joint investments made through partnerships. Within the framework of the ERA Policy Agenda, PKH will coordinate the implementation of the partnerships’ component of ERA action “10 - Missions and partnerships”.
- National Delegates:
- Luís Maia (ANI)
- Gonçalo Zagalo (FCT)

ERA standing subgroup on the Global Approach to R&I
- The sub-group’s tasks are to advise the Commission services in designing, implementing and evaluating approaches and actions of international R&I cooperation, to establish coordination between the Commission and Member States and stakeholders and to exchange experience and good practice in the field of International R&I Cooperation, including at the multilateral level. The sub-group is cochaired by a Member State and the Commission to take into account and continue the work done by the Strategic Forum for International Scientific and Technological Cooperation (SFIC). Within the framework of the ERA Policy Agenda, the subgroup will coordinate the implementation of the ERA action “9 - Promote international cooperation”.
- National Delegate:
- Gonçalo Zagalo (FCT)