01 Jul 2026
25 EU-funded projects to advance a more competitive, fair and inclusive European Research Area
The EU is investing €55.5 million in 25 new projects to strengthen the European Research Area (ERA) and make it more competitive, fair and inclusive. Funded under the 2025 Horizon Europe call 'Reforming and enhancing the European R&I system', the projects are expected to start between May and October 2026.
The selected projects will support researchers’ employability, improve knowledge sharing, strengthen evidence-based policymaking, and enhance research and innovation capacity across Europe.
Several projects will address barriers in research careers and discrimination in the workplace, helping to create more inclusive and attractive research environments. Others will gather evidence to support reforms in research assessment and provide sustained guidance on institutional non-profit open access publishing.
In line with the ERA Policy Agenda, a number of projects will also improve knowledge circulation for policymaking and society more broadly.
Many of the initiatives will help build research and innovation capacity across the ERA. This includes support and training for research managers, strengthening knowledge valorisation, training professionals in research commercialisation, and establishing communities of practice.
One of the projects will organise the second edition of Science Comes to Town, an initiative designed to build trust in science through festivals, competitions and events in cities across Europe.
With this €55.5 million investment, the EU is reinforcing its commitment to a stronger, more connected and more resilient European research and innovation system.
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