ERA:"Disparities between and within member states hamper the EU's scientific potential" (Commission)

"The EU still cannot rely on a fully effective European Research Area (ERA) capable of attracting, retaining and nurturing its talent under optimal conditions", can one read in a communication adopted by the Commission on 22/10/2024 on the implementation of the ERA.

The quality of European research is high but numerous barriers remain and "continue to hinder Europe’s competitiveness", according to the Draghi reports:

• inadequate prioritisation of R&I in public budgets;
• insufficient coordination of R&I policies across ERA countries;
• persistent fragmentation of R&I systems and regulations;
• performance disparities;
• administrative burden;
• difficulties to deploy and exploit R&I results, and scale up innovative companies in Europe.

"The persistence of these challenges, weaknesses and disparities across and within member states prevents the EU from leveraging its full scientific potential for the benefit of the economy and society", states the Commission.

This communication comes four years after the 2020 communication entitled "A new ERA for Research and Innovation", in which the…