European Research Area
The European Research Area (ERA) was launched in 2000 within the framework of the Lisbon Strategy to address the issue of fragmentation in European Research & Innovation (R&I) systems. The ERA aims to establish itself as a unified area for research, promoting the free circulation of researchers, scientific knowledge, and technology within the European Union. .
There are four main objectives defined for the new ERA:
1.Prioritize investments and reforms in the domain of R&I to facilitate the green and digital transitions, support Europe’s recovery, and enhance its competitiveness.
2.Improve researchers’ access to excellent facilities and infrastructure across the EU.
3. Transfer research results to the economy to boost business investments and market uptake of research outcomes, as well as promote the EU’s competitiveness and leadership in the global technology context.
4.Strengthen researcher mobility and the free circulation of knowledge and technologies through greater cooperation among Member States, ensuring that everyone benefits from research and its outcomes.
European Research Area Policy Agenda (EEI Policy Agenda)
The European Research Area (EEI) Policy Agenda was designed to contribute to the priority domains of the Pact for R&I in Europe, encompassing the diversity of national and regional political contexts and employing an adaptive approach to be approved by the Council every three years, functioning as a dynamic document subject to periodic adjustments.
The final list of actions that make up the EEI Policy Agenda 2022-24, distributed across their corresponding priority areas, is as follows:
Priority Area “Deepening a truly functional internal knowledge market”
Empowering Open Science
EU Legislative Framework on Data and Copyright
Research Evaluation Reform
Research Careers, Talent Circulation, and Mobility
Gender Equality and Inclusion
Protection of Academic Freedom in Europe
Knowledge Valorization
Strengthening Research Infrastructures
Promoting International Cooperation
Priority Area “Deepening a truly functional internal knowledge market”
Missions and partnerships
Climate transition
Accelerating climate and digital transitions
Empowering higher education institutions
Bringing science closer to citizens
Priority Area “Expanding access to excellence in research and innovation across the EU”
Improving access to excellence throughout the EU
Strengthening the strategic capacity of public research institutions
Priority Area “Making coordinated investments and reforms in research and innovation”
ERA monitoring mechanism
Portugal has committed to all the actions listed in the ERA, following preparatory work carried out by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the National Innovation Agency (ANI), which culminated in the analysis and validation by the MCTES Office.