The EU is investing €55.5 million in 25 projects that will strengthen researchers’ employability, knowledge sharing, evidence-based policymaking, and the research and innovation capacity across the European Research Area (ERA).
- News article
- 30 June 2026
- European Research Executive Agency
- 5 min read
The selected projects are expected, among others, to:
- Address research career barriers and discrimination at the workplace;
- Gather evidence to support reforms of research assessment;
- Provide sustained guidance on institutional non-profit open access publishing; and,
- Strengthen knowledge sharing, also for policymaking – in line with the ERA Policy Agenda.
Several projects are expected to contribute to building research and innovation capacity across the European Research Area, for instance, by providing support and training facilities to research managers, strengthening knowledge valorisation and training professionals for research commercialisation, as well as establishing communities of practice.
One of the projects will organise the second edition of the Science Comes to Town, an initiative dedicated to building trust in science through organising science festivals, competitions and events in European cities.
Projects are sharing €55.5 million in EU funding coming from the 2025 Horizon Europe’s ‘Reforming and enhancing the European R&I system’ call. They are expected to start between May and October 2026.
Projects selected per topic:
| HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06-ERA call I Topics | Number of funded projects | EU funding* |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Rolling out the ERA Policy Agenda results | 18 | €32 million |
| 2. Enable sustained coordination and guidance at the European level on institutional non-profit open access publishing | 1 | €2 million |
| 3. Research and innovation to provide evidence that support reforms of research assessment | 1 | €4 million |
| 4. Investigating and addressing career barriers faced by underrepresented and marginalised researchers | 2 | €6 million |
| 5. Programme-level collaboration | 1 | €2.5 million |
| 6. Strengthening of the European Science for Policy Ecosystem | 1 | €3 million |
| 7. Science comes to town 2027 | 1 | €6 million |
| TOTAL | 25 | €55.5 million |
* Rounded figures
What will the selected projects do?
The projects have been selected to work under seven different topics to make the European Research Area more competitive, fair, and inclusive.
Topic 1: Rolling out the ERA Policy Agenda Results | 18 projects funded
Between 2022 and 2024, the first ERA Policy Agenda produced numerous tools, guidelines, and recommendations through EU and national initiatives. The highest number of projects funded under this call (18) will advance those existing results on a larger scale across Europe. They will focus on 6 thematic areas, including open science, research assessment, researchers' working conditions and knowledge transfer.
For example, the CareerEnhance project aims to establish a European Community of Practice, offering tools, trainings, and resources that enhance employability, inter-sectoral mobility, and recognition of researchers across Europe.
The Valleys project will establish a European network to empower and bring together experts who translate research into practice, maximising its impact across academia, industry, society and policy.
Some projects are expected to upgrade services of knowledge and technology transfer professionals in universities and research performing organisations. For instance, KnowVAlTE plans to establish a central Knowledge Valorisation Hub as a consolidated entry point for training, services, and mentoring.
ERMA will build a virtual collaborative network linking aspiring and experienced research managers with employers in academic and non-academic sectors. The project plans awareness campaigns in Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
See all projects funded under this topic
Topic 2: Enabling sustained coordination and guidance at the European level on institutional non-profit open access publishing | 1 project funded
AEGIS-OA is expected to create a sustainable open access academic publishing ecosystem in Europe. The project will increase biblio-diversity, foster community building between institutional publishers, and promote open science practices.
Topic 3: Research and innovation to provide evidence that supports reforms of research assessment | 1 project funded
REALISE plans to deliver new evidence on the efficacy of research assessment tools and methods, as well as recommendations tailored to the local context of research organisations.
Topic 4: Investigating and addressing career barriers faced by underrepresented and marginalised researchers | 2 projects funded
BEYOND BARRIERS will help building a more inclusive and equal European Research Area where all researchers belong, no matter their race, sexual orientation, disability and political status.
REFLECT will explore gaps in knowledge, policy and practice as well as in capacity and implementation, with the aim of developing and piloting tools that embed intersectionality in research careers.
Topic 5: Programme-level collaboration|1 project funded
M-ERA.NET 4 will address common R&I priorities on advanced materials across the EU, Associated Countries and Non-European countries, guided by international policy developments, technological trends, and emerging approaches to social responsibility.
Topic 6: Strengthening of the European Science for Policy Ecosystem | 1 project funded
S4PXchange plans to advance evidence-informed policymaking by establishing a support office for the European Commission’s Network of Science for Policy Correspondents. It will develop best practices and the Science for Policy Observatory for mutual learning, capacity building and strategic policy dialogues.
Topic 7: Science comes to town 2027| 1 project funded
Science4Everyone gathers 15 organisations working together in designing and implementing a one-year programme offering more than 240 scientific activities in four European cities: Aarhus (Denmark), Genova (Italy), Kaunas (Lithuania), and Oeiras (Portugal). The programme of activities includes the 2027 EU Contest for Young Scientists and the EU TalentOn competition.
This will be the second edition of the European Commission’s flagship initiative ‘Science comes to town’, highlighting the dynamism and commitment of science in the EU, and the important role that citizens and municipalities can play in research.
See all projects funded under the European Research Area 2026 call.