Recent Report Highlights Steady Advances Alongside Persistent Barriers in Europe's Research Landscape

The European Research Area continues to evolve as a cornerstone of the European Union's efforts to create a seamless, borderless environment for knowledge creation and innovation. The latest ERA Scoreboard 2025, released by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation on 1 June 2026, paints a picture of measured advancement across core priorities while underscoring enduring structural hurdles that demand coordinated attention from Member States, associated countries under Horizon Europe, and research stakeholders.

Launched originally in 2000 and revitalised in 2020 through the Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe, the ERA seeks to align national research systems more closely with EU-wide goals. The 2025 Scoreboard evaluates performance from 2010 to 2023 across four strategic priorities, drawing on data from EU institutions, Member States, and Horizon Europe partners. Overall, the findings confirm substantial gains in several domains, yet they also flag areas where convergence remains elusive, potentially affecting Europe's global standing in science and technology.

Core Priorities Driving the European Research Area Forward

The four ERA priorities provide the framework for joint action. The first focuses on deepening a truly functional internal market for knowledge, emphasising researcher mobility, open science practices, and cross-border collaboration. The second addresses the green and digital transitions alongside greater societal engagement in research. The third aims to enhance access to excellence in research and innovation throughout the EU, particularly supporting widening countries. The fourth centres on advancing concerted investments and policy reforms to strengthen the overall ecosystem.

Progress has been most evident in areas such as open science adoption and efforts to improve gender balance in research leadership. These developments reflect years of policy alignment and stakeholder involvement through mechanisms like the ERA Forum. However, the report notes that translating these gains into broader scientific leadership and more effective coordination of investments requires further work.

Advances in Open Science and Societal Participation

One of the clearest success stories lies in the uptake of open science principles. European researchers and institutions have increasingly embraced open access publishing, data sharing, and transparent methodologies. This shift supports the internal market for knowledge by reducing duplication and accelerating discovery. Associated countries under Horizon Europe have played a key role, contributing to shared infrastructures and standards that benefit the entire region.

Societal participation has also strengthened. Initiatives encouraging citizen science and improved science communication have helped bridge the gap between research communities and the public. These efforts align with broader EU objectives around the green and digital transitions, where research outputs increasingly inform policy on climate neutrality and technological sovereignty. Universities across Europe have integrated these themes into curricula and collaborative projects, fostering a new generation of researchers attuned to societal needs.

Gender Balance and Research Careers Show Positive Trends

Improvements in female representation in research leadership positions stand out as another area of progress. Data in the Scoreboard indicate rising shares of women in senior academic and research roles, supported by targeted policies at national and EU levels. This contributes to a more inclusive research environment and helps address long-standing imbalances.

Research careers themselves have benefited from greater attention to mobility and skills development. Programmes facilitating cross-border movement and professional development have expanded, aiding early-career researchers in building international networks. Institutions such as those participating in European University Alliances have piloted innovative approaches to career pathways, though challenges around precarity persist in some national contexts.

Photo by Fer Troulik on Unsplash

Limited Progress in Scientific Leadership and Investment Coordination

Despite overall gains, the Scoreboard identifies stagnation or slower advancement in scientific leadership metrics, including Europe's share of highly cited publications. Challenge-based research and innovation actions, which aim to tackle complex societal problems through interdisciplinary efforts, have not scaled as hoped. Coordination of research and innovation investments across Member States remains fragmented, limiting synergies with education and skills policies.

These structural imbalances pose risks to long-term competitiveness. Widening participation countries continue to face disparities in access to excellence, while uneven R&D spending patterns hinder collective impact. The report emphasises that without stronger convergence, Europe may struggle to maintain its position amid global competition.

The 2025-2027 ERA Policy Agenda: A Streamlined Approach

Building on the 2022-2024 cycle, the ERA Policy Agenda 2025-2027 introduces a simplified structure with 11 structural policies and 8 targeted ERA actions. Structural policies address enduring issues such as open science, research infrastructures, and research careers. The actions focus on emerging priorities including artificial intelligence in science, research security, and responsible research assessment.

This agenda was shaped through extensive co-creation involving the European Commission, Member States, and organisations like the European University Association. It places renewed emphasis on research careers, reform of assessment practices, and the integration of higher education with research and innovation ecosystems. The agenda supports voluntary commitments while encouraging alignment with national strategies.

Universities and Higher Education Institutions at the Heart of ERA Implementation

European universities serve as primary engines for delivering ERA objectives. They host the majority of researchers, drive open science practices, and facilitate mobility through programmes like Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. The renewed focus on synergies between research and higher education in the 2025-2027 agenda directly engages institutions in addressing skills gaps and fostering innovation ecosystems.

European University Alliances have emerged as key testing grounds for collaborative models. These networks promote joint degrees, shared research infrastructures, and cross-border talent pipelines. Challenges remain, however, around administrative burdens and varying national regulatory frameworks that can impede seamless cooperation.

Anticipating the ERA Act and Strengthened Governance

The European Commission plans to adopt the ERA Act in 2026, as outlined in the Competitiveness Compass for the EU. This legislative initiative aims to address persistent barriers including fragmented regulations, uneven investment levels, and obstacles to knowledge circulation. It builds directly on the progress tracked in recent Scoreboards and Policy Agendas.

Stakeholders anticipate that the Act will provide a stronger legal foundation for research careers, enhance framework conditions for excellence, and promote inclusivity across disciplines and regions. Discussions in the ERA Forum have highlighted the need for reduced bureaucracy and better alignment with industrial competitiveness goals.

Photo by Carl Gruner on Unsplash

Implications for Researchers, Administrators, and Policy Makers

For individual researchers and PhD candidates, the mixed progress signals both opportunities and areas requiring vigilance. Enhanced mobility schemes and open science mandates offer clearer pathways, yet concerns around career stability and citation visibility persist. University administrators must navigate evolving assessment reforms while securing resources for infrastructure and international partnerships.

Policy makers at national and EU levels face the task of translating Scoreboard insights into targeted reforms. Greater investment in widening countries, stronger linkages between research and education, and sustained support for challenge-driven initiatives will be essential. Collaborative platforms such as the ERA Forum continue to serve as vital spaces for dialogue and joint planning.

Looking Ahead: Building on Momentum for a More Cohesive ERA

The ERA Scoreboard 2025 underscores that while foundational elements of the European Research Area are advancing, sustained effort is needed to overcome structural challenges. The upcoming ERA Act and the 2025-2027 Policy Agenda represent timely opportunities to embed reforms more deeply into national systems.

Europe's research community remains well positioned to contribute to global challenges through coordinated action. By addressing disparities in excellence, strengthening investment synergies, and prioritising researcher well-being, the ERA can fulfil its promise of a truly borderless knowledge space. Stakeholders across universities, research organisations, and governments are encouraged to engage actively in the next phases of implementation.

Resources such as the official European Commission news release on the ERA Scoreboard 2025 and the ERA Policy Agenda 2025-2027 platform offer detailed data and guidance for those seeking to contribute to this evolving landscape.