Rolling out the ERA Policy Agenda results

Overall, funded projects will increase uptake by broad R&I communities of results produced under the ERA Policy Agenda, contributing to the impacts described in the “Reforming and enhancing the European research and innovation system” destination. Specific outcomes by area include:

Area 1 (Reproducibility):

• Wider implementation of reproducibility interventions in RPOs

• Enhanced understanding among researchers, institutions and service providers of policies and tools’ effectiveness

• Higher share of reproducible outputs from publicly funded research

Area 2 (Research Assessment):

• Increased awareness and trust in reformed assessment practices among researchers and organisations

• Greater uptake of CoARA, DORA and other good practice recommendations

• Improved knowledge of enablers and barriers to assessment reform by researchers, organisations and policymakers

Area 3 (Research Careers):

• Inventory of organisational good practices and lessons learned on the new European research careers framework

• Growth in academic and non-academic entities implementing the framework, leading to stronger, more secure careers

• Better working conditions and employability, especially for early-career researchers

Area 4 (Valorisation Intermediaries):

• A pan-European network of knowledge valorisation intermediaries connecting academia, industry, society and policymakers

• New or improved shared tools and resources aligned with EU Guiding Principles and Codes of Practice

• Enhanced capacities and skills among intermediaries to facilitate multi-actor knowledge valorisation

Area 5 (KTO/TTO Services):

• Strengthened skills and capacities for KTO/TTO professionals to identify market and societal value of R&I results

• Freely available upgraded services to support multi-stakeholder business development, knowledge transfer and policy uptake

• New curricula and training modules for students and researchers fostering entrepreneurial mindsets

Area 6 (Research Management):

• Collaborative network and central hub for research managers to exchange best practices and learning materials

• Enhanced professional recognition, career progression and mobility for research managers through training, mentorship and development tools

• Increased access to high-quality research management training and institutional practices, with special support for under-resourced organisations

Across all areas, projects will ensure gender-inclusive activities, open access to results, broad stakeholder engagement and coordination with peer projects to maximize ERA implementation.

Proposals must:


• Address exactly one of the six specified ERA policy areas (open science/reproducibility, research assessment, research careers, knowledge valorisation intermediaries, KTO/TTO services, research management);

• Build on and roll out existing tools, recommendations, guidelines or practices produced under the first ERA Policy Agenda (2022–2024) and relevant Horizon Europe/WIDERA projects;

• Demonstrate involvement of stakeholders (RPOs, RFOs, universities, intermediaries, policymakers, etc.) who have not previously participated in ERA Policy Agenda actions;

• Reach large, clearly described target groups—consortia of organizations, networks or ecosystem actors—with wide geographical coverage, inclusivity and ongoing openness to new participants;

• Pay particular attention to inclusive gender equality and address gender-specific challenges within all activities;

• Coordinate with parallel projects funded under this call via annual status seminars to ensure synergies;

• Provide open access to all deliverables, tools and resources produced;

• Envisage a maximum project duration of up to 3 years (longer only if duly justified);

• Form a consortium of at least three independent legal entities from three different EU Member States or Associated Countries, with at least two entities in Member States;

• Comply with eligibility, admissibility, evaluation and award criteria, as set out in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes (Annexes A–F) and the Programme Guide.