Making research careers more attractive and sustainable and support mobility

01WHAT’S UP

02INTRODUCTION

Structural Policy 4 in the ERA Policy Agenda (2025-2027)

This Structural Policy aims to make research careers in Europe more attractive and sustainable, by supporting joint implementation by the EU, Member States, and, where appropriate, Associated Countries, and stakeholders of all actions stemming from action 4 of the ERA Policy Agenda 2022-2024, and by monitoring the outcomes of implementing these initiatives and reforms on the ground. The action will include exchanges of good practices, the development of guidelines and recommendations, and the contribution to the consolidation of the ReICO.

Objectives

  • Foster recognition of the research professions, and the interoperability and comparability of research careers across sectors and Member States, in line with the Council Recommendation on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe;
  • improve recruitment and working conditions, including aspects related to open, transparent and merit-based recruitment (OTM-R);
  • strengthen researchers’ skills to foster inter-sectoral and inter-disciplinary careers;
  • support better career development and progression and shape new investment pathways to reduce precarity and broaden the spectrum of career opportunities;
  • work towards a more balanced circulation of talents, including intersectoral flows;
  • ensure effective and reliable data from the Research and Innovation Careers Observatory (ReICO);
  • create synergies with other related ERA policy actions and related current and future EU initiatives, particularly those supporting the mobility of researchers within Europe, such as the Commission’s skills and talent mobility package.

Expected outcomes

  • Co-created guidelines for the implementation of the "Council Recommendation on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe", for better quality jobs and a better functioning research labour market;
  • a community of practice to share experiences and strengthen research careers at European, national, regional, and organisational level;
  • a consolidated ReICO with the involvement of relevant actors outside the R&I community, and jointly eliminating gaps;
  • recommendations for better career development and career progression, including European tenure track-like models and related assessment and funding mechanisms;
  • co-created investment pathways, joining and coordinating forces and co-designing initiatives to reduce precarity and ease career paths to non-academic research careers.

Background information

Action 4 of the first ERA Policy Agenda (2022-2024) aimed at strengthening research careers in Europe and making them more attractive for EU and international research talents. Since 2022, a significant number of important outcomes have been delivered to make careers in Europe more attractive and sustainable. The most important outcome was the adoption of the "Council Recommendation on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe, including the new European Charter for Researchers" (December 2023) that established new standards for research careers in Europe.

For more information:

Horizon Europe support for research careers | European Research Area Platform

Council Recommendation of 18 December 2023 on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe

03KEY DOCUMENTS