European Research Area Act: Strengthening Europe’s Research and Innovation Landscape

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the forthcoming European Research Area (ERA) Act, a legislative proposal aiming to strengthen Europe’s research and innovation (R&I) ecosystem and boost the EU’s global competitiveness. 

Building on the long-standing goal to raise R&D investment to 3% of GDP, the ERA Act seeks to create an integrated research area by aligning national and EU funding priorities, promoting cross-border collaboration, and ensuring the free movement of researchers, scientific knowledge, and technology across Europe. 

The initiative responds to recent recommendations by Enrico Letta, Heitor Expert group and Mario Draghi and will complement existing frameworks such as the Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe and the ERA Policy Agenda 2025–2027. It also aims to realise the so-called “fifth freedom”—the free circulation of knowledge and talent within the Single Market. 

The proposal focuses on three main pillars: 

• Reaching the 3% R&D investment target through coordinated national and EU actions. 
• Better alignment of investments and policies across Member States and EU priorities. 
• Improved conditions for researchers and organisations, including stronger support for open science, gender equality, and freedom of scientific research. 

By enhancing coordination, mobility, and funding, the ERA Act is expected to make Europe a more attractive destination for researchers and innovators, while fostering fairer, more interconnected research environments across Member States. 

The public consultation is open until 23 January 2026, and feedback will inform the final legislative proposal, expected in the third quarter of 2026.