ERA in Practice: A guide for the research and innovation community (2026)

The European Commission DG Research & Innovation has published ERA in Practice: A Guide for the R&I Community, developed with the support of INSPIRING ERA. The publication connects the four European Research Area policy priorities for joint action, of the Pact for Research and Innovation (2021), with practical tools and services, helping researchers, research managers and institutions translate European research policy into everyday practice.

The guide highlights key achievements of the ERA Policy Agenda 2022–2024 and introduces priorities for 2025–2027, covering the following broader themes

Priority Area 1: Deepening a truly functioning internal market for knowledge

1.1 Open science and copyright

1.2 Research careers

1.3 Research assessment

1.4 ERA values: Equality, inclusiveness & freedom of scientific research & ethics

1.5 Research infrastructures

1.6 Knowledge valorisation

1.7 International cooperation

Priority Area 2: Taking up together the green transition and digital transformation

2.1 Research for the twin transition

2.2 Public engagement in research and innovation

2.3 Artificial intelligence in science

2.4 Science for Policy

2.5 Higher education in the ERA

Priority Area 3: Enhancing access to research and innovation excellence across the Union

3.1 Access to excellence

3.2 Research management

Priority Area 4: Advancing concerted research and innovation investments and reforms

4.1 ERA monitoring

The Guide also showcases selected Horizon Europe projects and forthcoming and open Horizon Europe calls for proposals. Finally, it illustrates how activities within each theme are designed to facilitate the work of different research and innovation actors, more specifically researchers, project leaders, institutional leaders, research managers and grant/funding support offices.