Explore the report from the conference “European Research Area: Fostering Greater Integration. Advancing Competitiveness”, held in Brussels in September 2024. Organised by the European Commission and supported by the INSPIRING ERA project, this two-day event explored how the diversity of topics and research areas covered by the European Research Area (ERA) contributes to Europe’s competitiveness in the global arena. Dive into the highlights of the conference, featuring the key takeaways and ideas, inspiring sessions, and insights to strengthen Europe’s R&I landscape.
The event brought together a diverse community of share- and stakeholders, including researchers, innovators, representatives of research performing and research funding organisations, private sector actors and policymakers at European, national and regional level. The conference garnered great interest from the R&I community: While more than 400 people were able to follow the conference programme on-site, an additional approximately 640 people watched the livestream of the plenary sessions. Reaching more than 1000 people from the R&I community in Europe through physical or virtual participation is an indication of the successful impact of the ERA Conference.
The conference was held in a lunch-to-lunch format and entailed inspiring speeches, engaging plenary debates and in-depth break-out sessions on selected ERA topics (see annex for a full agenda). All videos of the plenary debates and the speeches held in the plenary are available on the dedicated webpage on our website (also including some of the conference materials), the ERA Policy Platform and on the Youtube Channel of the European Commission, Directorate-General (DG) Research and Innovation.
The themes discussed below reflect the breadth of topics explored during the conference, without implying a hierarchy of importance or priority.
Key themes and insights from the discussions are following:
- Strengthening ERA’s foundations and realising the fifth freedom: A key focus of discussions was the ongoing effort to enhance cross-border collaboration and facilitate the free movement of knowledge, researchers, and innovation across Europe. While participants agreed that significant progress has been made, challenges such as policy fragmentation and mobility barriers remain. Suggestions to overcome these challenges included proposals such as a 28th regime for researchers and strengthened governance structures.
- Driving competitiveness through strategic investments and reforms: Substantial investments in R&I were found to be essential for long-term economic growth and global leadership. Achieving the 3% GDP (gross domestic product) target for R&I investment was a recurring focus, alongside the need for robust public-private partnerships, efficient funding processes, and targeted investments in key technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), renewable energy, and biotechnology.
- Inclusive gender equality: Gender equality and inclusiveness are long-standing priorities within the ERA. With the introduction of the gender equality plan eligibility criterion in Horizon Europe and the publication of the “Zero tolerance code of conduct on counteracting gender-based violence in the EU research and innovation system”, progress towards gender equality was celebrated, alongside calls to address systemic barriers through intersectional and inclusive approaches. Ensuring equitable and inclusive career pathways and fostering diverse talent pools were underscored as vital for Europe’s competitiveness.
- Protecting scientific freedom and enhancing research security: Safeguarding scientific freedom while addressing challenges such as political interference and foreign influence is a key priority within ERA. Discussions emphasised the importance of maintaining openness in research while strengthening governance to protect researchers’ autonomy and mitigating risks associated with international collaborations. Transparent and inclusive science communication was recognised as crucial for building societal trust.
- Building dynamic innovation ecosystems: Translating research outputs into impactful innovations was a recurring theme in the conference’s discussions. Strengthening ties between academia, industry, and policymakers was identified as essential for bridging the gap between research and commercialisation. Support for entrepreneurship, harmonised regulations, and targeted initiatives to promote start-ups and scale-ups were seen as necessary steps.
- Advancing sustainability and the circular economy: The role of the ERA in driving Europe’s sustainability forward was central to many discussions. Participants underscored the importance of scaling sustainable solutions, such as hydrogen and solar energy technologies. Collaborative efforts, policy alignment, and scalable technologies were seen as necessary to achieve climate neutrality in Europe.
