A new ERA for Research and Innovation

Summary:

Communication published by the European Commission on 30 September 2020, setting out an Action Plan to implement a renewed European Research Area (ERA).

Further information:

The European Research Area (ERA) was launched in 2000 with the ambition to create a single, borderless markets for research, innovation and technology across the European Union (EU). Its aim is to support Member States in bringing their effort together, through alignment of their research policies and programmes.

The revised ERA aims to incentivise better coordination and cooperation among the EU, its Member States and the private sector; lead to more investments in research and innovation; strengthen mobility of researchers, their expertise, and the flow of knowledge. This Communication sets out for strategic objectives for the European Research Area:

• Prioritise investments and reforms in research and innovation, to support the digital and green transition and Europe's recovery;
• Improve access to excellent research and innovation for researchers across the EU;
• Translate results into the economy to ensure market uptake of research output and Europe's competitive leadership in technology;
• Make progress on the free circulation of knowledge, research and technology through stronger cooperation with EU countries.

The Council of the European Union held an exchange of views on this Communication on 27 November, and a set of Council conclusions concerning a new European Research Area were adopted on 1 December.

Official

EUR-Lex: SWD(2020)214: Staff Working Document accompanying the Communication https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2020:214:FIN

European Commission: European Research Area (ERA) https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/strategy/era_en

European Commission: Press Release, 30/09/2020: A new European Research Area: Commission sets new plan to support green and digital transition and EU recovery https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_1749

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 01/12/2020: New European Research Area: Council adopts conclusions https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/12/01/new-european-research-area-council-adopts-conclusions/

General Secretariat of the Council: Council conclusions on the New European Research Area (1 December 2020) https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-13567-2020-INIT/en/pdf

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