The overall goal of the two programmes is a union where knowledge and a highly-skilled workforce circulate freely, research outputs are shared rapidly and efficiently, researchers benefit from attractive careers and gender equality is ensured, where EU Member States and associated countries (e.g. Israel) develop common strategic research agendas, aligning national plans, defining and implementing joint programmes, and where the outcomes of R&I are understood and trusted by informed citizens and benefit society as a whole.
The two programmes are especially responding to the second policy priority of the European Research Area (ERA) communication i.e., Improving access to excellence: towards more excellence and stronger R&I systems across the whole of the EU where best practice is disseminated faster across Europe. They will support the low R&I performing EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries ("Widening Countries") to increase the performance of their R&I system towards excellence building on dedicated Horizon Europe measures and complementarities with smart specialisation strategies under Cohesion Policy.
Widening the participation of low R&I performing countries
Eligible countries for the Widening programme are EU13, Portugal, Greece and all Associated Countries with equivalent characteristics in terms of R&I performance and Outermost Regions ("Widening Countries").
The Widening programme key objectives are the following:
- Encourage reforms and transformation processes of the R&I system at institutional, national and regional level in Widening Countries in line with ERA principles.
- Mobilise national investments in R&I capacity in Widening Countries.
- Raise the bar for excellence of R&I actors in Widening Countries in partnership with outstanding European and international institutions (‘win win situation’).
- Increase the number of participations and success rates of Widening actors in research and innovation projects in other parts of Horizon Europe (notably in pillars 2 and 3).
- Promote the creation of new and upscaling of existing innovation ecosystems by a set of measures, which include, among other, place based and international collaboration between academia and business in Widening Countries.
- Foster brain circulation, including inter-sectoral mobility for researchers and innovators and turn it into brain gain for Widening Countries.
Strengthening the European Research Area
The activities supported by the ERA programme specifically address ERA policy priorities, aiming at inciting more investments, improving the access to excellence, translating R&I results into the economy, improving research management capabilities, and deepening the ERA.
Activities may also be established to foster brain circulation across ERA through the mobility of researchers and innovators; to create and develop networks of scholars, scientists, researchers and innovators, policymakers and research managers; and by supporting the development of domain-specific science roadmaps. These will contribute de facto to all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but directly to the following:
- SDG 4 - Quality Education;
- SDG 5 - Gender Equality;
- SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure;
- SDG 17 - Partnership for the Goals.
The ERA programme will also contribute to the implementation of key policy objectives of the European Commission, notably the European Green Deal and the EU’s digital strategy while supporting the related green and digital transition (twin transition).