How does the European Research Area translate into real opportunities for researchers, universities and research organisations? From improving Research Careers and advancing Open Science to strengthening Research Management and Knowledge Valorisation, European cooperation is shaping how research is conducted, supported and shared across borders.
A new European Commission publication, “ERA in Practice: A Guide for the R&I Community”, provides a practical overview of these developments, connecting achievements under the ERA Policy Agenda 2022–2024 with priorities and activities under the ERA Policy Agenda 2025–2027.
Prepared by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation with the support of INSPIRING ERA, the guide highlights European tools, initiatives, Horizon Europe projects and funding opportunities, explaining how different actors can benefit from them.
Setting the Scene: From Policy Ambitions to Practical Implementation
Since its launch in 2000, the European Research Area (ERA) has pursued a common ambition: creating a European research landscape where knowledge, researchers and innovation can move freely across borders.
The ERA Policy Agendas translate this ambition into coordinated activities involving the European Commission, Member States, Associated Countries and research and innovation stakeholders.
The guide illustrates an important evolution: from developing common policy frameworks towards implementing them, strengthening institutional capacities and supporting their practical uptake.
Organised around the four priorities of the Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe, it covers 15 thematic areas, providing a bridge between European policy developments and everyday research practice.
European Tools and Opportunities in Practice
The publication showcases concrete initiatives supporting different aspects of Europe’s research and innovation ecosystem:
- Open Science and research data – The European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) EU Node provides services for data-intensive research, while FAIR principles and emerging European approaches support data sharing, reuse and interoperability.
- Research careers and mobility – The ERA Talent Platform brings together instruments including EURAXESS, ResearchComp, RESAVER and HR Excellence in Research, helping researchers navigate career development, mobility and working conditions.
- Research assessment reform – The Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) supports institutions in moving towards more qualitative, transparent and inclusive assessment practices.
- Knowledge valorisation – European Codes of Practice and the EU Knowledge Valorisation Platform help research organisations turn scientific results into economic, societal, environmental and policy value.
- Research management – The Research Manager Competence Framework (RM Comp), CARDEA Academy and related initiatives support professional recognition, skills development and institutional research management capacities.
- Responsible AI in science – European guidelines on generative AI in research and the AI in Science Strategy address opportunities and risks associated with AI adoption, including research integrity and transparency.
Beyond these themes, the guide also examines gender equality, research security, research infrastructures, public engagement, science for policy, international cooperation, higher education and access to research excellence.
Challenges on the Ground
Despite progress, the guide identifies persistent obstacles to a more integrated European research system:
- Fragmented research careers – Precarious employment, limited mobility and insufficient recognition of non-academic pathways continue to affect researchers.
- Uneven institutional capacities – Differences in research management expertise, infrastructure access and investment contribute to disparities across Europe.
- Barriers to Open Science – Legal uncertainties, technical interoperability challenges and uneven data stewardship capacities complicate knowledge sharing.
- Limited uptake of research results – Gaps between research, industry, policymakers and society constrain knowledge valorisation.
- Emerging technological and societal challenges – Responsible AI adoption, research security, academic freedom and public trust require coordinated responses.
Addressing these challenges requires more than shared European ambitions: it depends on practical implementation within national research systems and individual organisations.
Pathways Forward: Making ERA Work for Its Community
The ERA Policy Agenda 2025–2027 places greater emphasis on transforming established frameworks into meaningful improvements. The guide highlights several pathways:
- Strengthen institutional implementation of European frameworks for research careers, assessment reform, Open Science and equality.
- Improve access to skills and services through European competence frameworks, training platforms and professional communities.
- Expand cross-border collaboration using research infrastructures, mobility instruments, European partnerships and Horizon Europe opportunities.
- Connect research with societal needs through knowledge valorisation, citizen engagement and science-for-policy initiatives.
- Reduce disparities in research excellence by strengthening cooperation between funding programmes and supporting institutions in Widening countries.
- Monitor progress and share good practices through ERA monitoring reports, the ERA Scoreboard, ERA Dashboard and ERA Policy Platform.
Why It Matters: Connecting ERA Policies with Everyday Research
What makes ERA in Practice particularly relevant is its user-oriented approach. For each thematic area, the guide explains how European developments can support three groups: researchers and project leaders; university and research institution leaders; and research managers and funding support offices.
This allows readers to identify resources relevant to their responsibilities — whether developing transferable skills, reforming institutional procedures, improving research support services or exploring European cooperation opportunities.
Ultimately, strengthening the ERA depends not only on agreeing common policies but also on ensuring that research and innovation actors can understand and use their outcomes.
By bringing together achievements, ongoing initiatives and practical opportunities, ERA in Practice helps connect European policy ambitions with the people and organisations responsible for turning them into reality.
Read the full publication: ERA in Practice – A Guide for the R&I Community
