What we are doing
EU-LIFE strongly stands for making the European Research Area (ERA) a reality. A healthy Research & Innovation ecosystem needs strong institutions and cannot fall solely on the shoulders of individual researchers or projects. We support the ERA by participating at stakeholder platforms and related working groups aimed at the advancement of ERA, as well as working actively with our member institutes in the implementation of ERA policies. Some of our latest actions in our contribution to ERA are:
- Co-representing research performing organisations in the ERA Forum as member of the Commission expert group on the ERA Forum
- Setting up EU-LIFE 12 priorities for the implementation of the ERA Policy Agenda (2022-2024)
- Releasing a statement with recommendations for a stronger and renewed ERA and a reaction to the EC communication on the new ERA
- Input into the EU Forum for Transition, including participation in the “Expert group on the ERA Forum for Transition workshop with the ERA stakeholders”, where we provided our Feedback for the ERA and Forum for Transition on values, principles and priorities of the ERA Pact
- Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council meeting with stakeholders which resulted in the draft of the Council conclusions on the future governance of the European Research Area
We mantain regular interactions with DG Research & Innovation Units leading ERA and Open Science and participating in key activities such as the Slovenian Presidency Conference 'New European Research Area - Towards a Responsible Knowledge-Driven Society of the 3rd Millennium' (2021) and the Hungarian Presidency's informal meeting on the competitiveness and fragmentation of ERA (2024).
We launched the EU-LIFE policy webinar series on EU high-priority topics with the aim to enhance and diversify our interactions with key policymakers. The topics covered to date include the opportunities for postdoc researchers in Europe and research assessment.
We promote internal discussions on specific aspects of our policy roadmap, such as the role of research institutes in the European research and innovation ecosystem.
ERA Policy Agenda 2025-2027
EU-LIFE actively participates in the following 12 ERA Actions and ERA Structural Policies from the 19 initiatives included in the ERA Policy Agenda 2025-2027:
ERA Actions
Accelerating new approach methodologies (NAMs) to advance biomedical research and testing of medicinal products and medical devices
EU-LIFE co-leads this ERA Action. EU-LIFE representatives: Marta Agostinho, Iris Uribesalgo, with the EU-LIFE Animal Research and NAMs Task Force.
Empowering R&I: A new era in research management
EU-LIFE co-leads this ERA Action. EU-LIFE representatives: Marta Agostinho, Iris Uribesalgo.
Facilitating and accelerating the responsible use of AI in science in the EU
EU-LIFE representatives: Natalia Dave, Iris Uribesalgo.
Enhancing Research Security
EU-LIFE representatives: Marta Agostinho, Iris Uribesalgo.
ERA Structural policies
Making research careers more attractive and sustainable, and support mobility
EU-LIFE representatives: Marta Agostinho, Iris Uribesalgo.
Reforming research assessment
EU-LIFE representatives: Iris Uribesalgo, Marta Agostinho.
Strengthening gender equality and inclusiveness in the ERA, notably with an intersectional approach
EU-LIFE representatives: Dörthe Nickel, Iris Uribesalgo.
Enhancing trust in science through citizen participation, engagement and science communication
EU-LIFE representatives: Ester Jarour, Iris Uribesalgo.
Upscaling knowledge valorisation capacities and activities
EU-LIFE representatives: Iris Uribesalgo, Marta Agostinho.
Implementing the Global Approach to R&I
EU-LIFE representatives: Marta Agostinho, Iris Uribesalgo.
Strengthening sustainability, accessibility and resilience of research infrastructures in the ERA
EU-LIFE representatives: Marta Agostinho, Iris Uribesalgo.
Improving the articulation between R&I and higher education within the ERA and unleashing the full potential of European R&I ecosystems
EU-LIFE representatives: Marta Agostinho, Iris Uribesalgo.
* Previously, EU-LIFE also had an active role in the ERA Policy Agenda 2022-2024, participating in the following ERA Actions:
Open science (Action 1); EU copyright, access and reuse of research data (Action 2); Research assessment (Action 3); Research careers (Action 4); Gender equality and inclusiveness (Action 5); Academic freedom (Action 6); Knowledge valorisation (Action 7); Research infrastructures (Action 8); Empowering academic institutions (Action 13); Citizen engagement in science (Action 14); Widening access to excellence (Action 16); Strategic capacity of public research organizations (Action 17).
What we are doing in relevant fields for the implementation of ERA
Why it’s important
Launched in 2000 by the European Commission, ERA is at the heart of the common European policy for research, aiming at developing a “common market” for research and innovation in Europe and promoting a leading role for European research worldwide. As the overarching EU policy for research and innovation, ERA encapsulates a vision for future and shapes subsequent policies.
In 2021, the Council of the European Union presented a renewed ERA and adopted a Pact for Research and Innovation (R&I) in Europe setting out strategic priorities and a streamlined governance framework for the ERA, including an ERA policy agenda for 2022-2024. This first agenda set out ERA actions to contribute to the priority areas defined in the Pact for R&I.
EU Member States, the European Commission, countries associated to Horizon Europe, and R&I stakeholders are currently working together to achieve progress on the ERA activities outlined in the second Policy Agenda (2025-2027).
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