Our goal
Enhanced excellence in research and research-based innovation, strengthening the foundations for the green transition, democracy, rule of law, human rights, social inclusion, and resilience.
Rationale for the support
Research and innovation strengthen value creation and competitiveness, and build knowledge and capacity to solve societal challenges and support democratic values and principles. Research and innovation have a key role to play in addressing systemic and lasting challenges that put a strain on citizens and communities in Europe. Examples include climate change and environmental degradation, security threats, health issues and well-being, changes in working life and the labour market, rapid technological change, and disinformation.
Research and innovation are key to strengthening the understanding of these complex societal challenges and to helping address them by developing innovative responses to further the green transition and enhance resilience, social cohesion, inclusive growth, green jobs, democracy and active citizen participation, and the well-being of citizens in Europe. The support contributes to addressing the gap in research and development in Europe.
Areas of support
- Cooperation on research and research-based innovation.
- Informing evidence-based policymaking on societal challenges.
- Engaging citizens in science.
- Overcoming barriers for the career progression of women and early-stage researchers.
- Strengthening the research and innovation ecosystem, such as research administration, communication of research, and open science.
How the objective will be addressed
The programme area will build research and innovation capacity in the Beneficiary States, increasing their participation in the EU framework programme for research and innovation, for example by fostering synergies and complementarities with the framework programme and the EU Missions. The programme area will contribute to the aim of a single market for research, innovation and technology in Europe (the European Research Area).
The programme area will support basic research and applied research focusing on the green transition, climate, energy and the environment; the digital transition, including cybersecurity; a competitive and sustainable economy; health; and resilient, socially inclusive and democratic societies.
Research within the social sciences and humanities, as well as cooperation across disciplines and sectors, is encouraged. The programme area will foster the integration of research, education and innovation.
Support for researchers’ careers, especially women and young researchers, will take heed of the new Charter for Researchers.
The engagement of citizens, including NGOs, in research and research-related activities will be encouraged to increase the impact of research and innovation. This will strengthen the understanding of democracy, building on scientific knowledge. By contributing to evidence-based decision-making and policy development, the programme area will benefit policymakers, stakeholders, and society at large.
Emphasis will be placed on strengthening the research and innovation ecosystem, for example by supporting advances towards open science, fostering FAIR data practices to enhance transparency and reusability of data, safeguarding scientific activities against misuse, and enhancing the skills of research administrators.
Safeguarding fundamental principles and values in research and innovation, such as research ethics and integrity, academic freedom, and open science, in line with the Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe and the Bonn Declaration on Freedom of Scientific Research, is crucial. This encompasses ethical and human-rights dimensions of new technology, including artificial intelligence.
Key actors and beneficiaries
Researchers in research organisations and companies are key actors in achieving the programme area objective. The engagement of citizens, non-governmental organisations, public authorities and policymakers is also vital. The public at large is the end beneficiary.