The European Research Area (ERA) Act, adopted in January 2025, forms part of the Commission’s Communication on a Competitiveness Compass for the EU. Its goal is to help close the innovation gap between Europe and other major global economies. The ERA Act seeks to reinforce the European R&I ecosystem and position the EU as a leading destination for researchers worldwide. It also represents a step forward in advancing the so-called “fifth freedom”, the free movement of researchers, scientific knowledge, and technology within the EU single market.
The Public Consultation aims to collect feedback on the main challenges the ERA Act intends to tackle, with a view to identifying possible EU-level legislative actions. Specifically, the Act focuses on achieving public and private investment targets, enhancing alignment of R&I policies and programmes between the EU and its Member States, safeguarding the core values of the European Research Area, and improving the overall conditions for research and researchers in Europe.
The consultation takes the form of a questionnaire, covering the main themes relevant to the future legislation. It is open to all stakeholders involved or interested in R&I policy until 23 January 2026. The findings will be summarised in a report published on the Have Your Say portal.
Key areas covered by the consultation include:
- Increasing R&D investment and achieving the 3% GDP target
- Enhancing coordination of R&I investments, policies and programmes between the EU and Member States
- Improving the research environment in Europe by upholding ERA values, ensuring the free circulation of knowledge and researchers, addressing fragmented guidance on AI in research, and promoting coherent approaches to international cooperation and research security
Access the public consultation here!
