YERUN highlights importance of ERA Act for young universities

YERUN (Young European Research Universities Network) has published its response to the Call for Evidence for the forthcoming ERA Act which closed on 10 September 2025. The association regards the progress made under previous ERA agendas as too often uneven and fragmented and therefore regards the proposed ERA Act as a vital next step, regarding it as "the instrument that can elevate the ERA from political aspiration to legal reality through codifying common standards, ensuring consistent application and supporting the realisation of the EU’s “fifth freedom”". According to YERUN, this matters particularly to young research universities, as they are crucial actors in talent development, open science and early-stage innovation, but depend on enabling framework conditions at the European level to fully realise their potential. YERUN therefore calls for the ERA Act to "be the tool that removes persistent barriers, aligns investments and protects the fundamental values that underpin a vibrant and inclusive R&I system".  

In response to the Call for Evidence, YERUN outlines policy priorities and makes recommendations for the ERA Act for the following areas:

• Unlocking the Fifth Freedom with binding commitments
• Enabling talent circulation and research careers
• Advancing Open Science and Research Infrastructures
• Protecting Scientific Freedom and Institutional Autonomy

YERUN regards the ERA Act as "a unique opportunity to provide a legal foundation for the European Research Area that is coherent, future-proof and inclusive" and calls on the EC and the Member States to use this opportunity to remove longstanding barriers, enable mobility and cooperation, and enshrine the values that sustain academic excellence.

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From Vision to Action Why the ERA Act Matters for Young Research Universities