Eurodoc has joined a joint statement submitted within the ERA Forum, Stakeholder Group 4, which gathers European-level organisations representing researchers and research communities and contributes stakeholder perspectives to the development of ERA policies. The statement contributes to the ongoing consultation process on the upcoming European Research Area (ERA) Act and reflects shared perspectives on how the Act can strengthen Europe’s research and innovation ecosystem.
The joint contribution including Association of ERC Grantees (AERG), the Initiative for Science in Europe (ISE) and the Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to introduce the ERA Act as a timely and necessary step to reduce fragmentation, enhance coordination across Member States and improve the long-term resilience and competitiveness of European research. The statement also highlights the central role of the ERA Forum as a platform for inclusive governance, mutual learning and meaningful stakeholder engagement in shaping future policy directions.
Sustained Public Investment as a Foundation
A central theme of the joint statement is the importance of sustained public investment in research and innovation (R&I). The authors point to the persistent gap in R&D intensity between the EU and other global leaders, noting that this continues to limit Europe’s capacity to attract and retain talent. Reaching the long-standing target of investing 3% of GDP in R&D is presented as a key reference point, with particular emphasis on ensuring that at least 1-1.25% of GDP comes from public funding.
The statement underlines that EU-level legislation can play an important role in establishing transparent and enforceable national investment targets, supported by long-term roadmaps and accountability mechanisms. Public R&D funding is described as the backbone of the European research system, particularly for frontier and investigator-driven research, which cannot rely solely on private investment
Protecting Academic Freedom and Shared Values
Improving general conditions for research and researchers is identified as a core pillar of a successful ERA Act. The statement stresses that freedom of scientific research is a foundational value for innovation, democratic resilience and public trust in science. At the same time, its protection remains uneven across Europe and increasingly exposed to political and structural pressures.
To address this, the joint contribution supports the establishment of a clear and enforceable framework for safeguarding academic freedom, institutional autonomy and transparent governance. It also proposes the creation of an independent European ombudsperson for academic freedom as a dedicated mechanism to monitor risks and support researchers facing systemic challenges.
Sustainable Careers and Fair Mobility
The statement highlights that attractive and sustainable research careers are essential for the free circulation of knowledge and talent within the ERA. However, persistent precarity, widespread use of fixed-term contracts, limited access to social security and complex administrative and visa procedures continue to shape the daily realities of many researchers, particularly early career and third-country national researchers
In this context, the ERA Act is seen as an opportunity to set minimum standards for research employment, especially for researchers funded through EU programmes. Transparent contracts, full access to social security and clear conditions for the use of EU funding are identified as important elements for supporting upward convergence across Member States and enabling national reforms.
Open Science and Knowledge Valorisation
The free circulation of scientific knowledge is presented as another cornerstone of the ERA. The joint statement calls for the ERA Act to consolidate existing commitments to open science, including open access to publications, sustainable publishing platforms such as Open Research Europe and continued investments in open research infrastructures and data management
Reforms in research assessment are also highlighted as necessary to better recognise quality, openness and the diversity of researcher contributions. At the same time, knowledge valorisation should adopt inclusive approaches that go beyond commercialisation, acknowledging the societal, cultural and policy impacts of publicly funded research.
A Shared Contribution to the ERA Debate
By joining this joint statement, Eurodoc contributes to a collective reflection on how the ERA Act can reinforce shared values, sustainable investment and coherent framework conditions across Europe. The statement emphasises that safeguarding academic freedom, protecting excellence-based funding and improving research careers and mobility are not separate objectives, but interconnected foundations for a strong and resilient European Research Area.
The full joint statement is available here.