Widening Participation and the European Research Area

Strengthening the European Research Area through Sharing Excellence and Widening Participation is a priority across all pillars of Horizon Europe, and through the Partnership instrument. The gap between the so-called EU13 countries, which joined the EU after 2004, and the EU14 Member States is often mirrored in R&I and thus requires efforts to balance those discrepancies. Involving a broad range of partners across the European Research Area allows for more equitable impacts and collaboration on delivering on EU policy priorities and addressing global challenges.

The activities of partnerships in this area should be aligned with the priorities set out in the 2021 Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe and the ERA Policy Agenda 2022-2024. The Second Horizon Europe Strategic Plan foresees the creation of synergies between the ERA Policy Agenda and the Horizon Europe work programmes to ensure that both the Pact for R&I priorities and Horizon Europe’s key strategic orientations are implemented effectively and coherently. The plan foresees increased intersectoral cooperation, building on ‘pockets of excellence’ and connecting them to broader ecosystems. In 2025-2027 widening focuses on inclusivity, R&I capacity, and sustainability of activities.