EC presents detailed information on results of public consultation on the ERA Act

Following the publication of an analysis of the contributions submitted to the call for evidence on the ERA Act, which had closed on 10 September 2025, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation has now presented a summary of the main results of the public consultation on the ERA Act which had closed on 23 January 2026.

According to the Commission, the public consultation drew strong interest from across Europe and beyond. In total, 735 contributions and 117 position papers were submitted, with responses coming from all 27 EU Member States, 8 Associated Countries to Horizon Europe and 15 non-EU countries. Participation was particularly high among academic and research institutions (45%), followed by EU citizens (24%).

The European Research Area (ERA) Act is a response to longstanding challenges in the EU's research and innovation (R&I) ecosystem, including fragmented regulatory frameworks, uneven R&D investment, and barriers to knowledge sharing. It builds on the successes of the revamped ERA since 2021, in particular the progress made through the ERA Policy Agendas. Key aspects of the proposed ERA Act include:

• national commitments to increase investment in research and development, with the aim of reaching 3% of GDP
• better coordination of research and innovation policies and investments between the EU and Member States
• improved conditions for researchers, including better career paths, mobility across countries and sectors, and support for open science
• strong protection of core values such as scientific freedom, research ethics and integrity, gender equality, and equal opportunities.

The Commission points out that the contributions to the public consultation show strong support for the ERA Act and send a clear message from stakeholders:

• the EU should do more to help national research systems work better together and reduce barriers between countries
• public investment in research and innovation should be clearer, more predictable and supported by concrete national commitments
• researchers need stronger and more consistent protection of their freedom to conduct scientific work across the EU
• moving and working across borders should be easier for researchers, including through simpler recognition of academic qualifications obtained in another EU country.

The Commission will now proceed with a thorough analysis of the contributions received, which will inform the next steps in the preparation of the ERA Act, ahead of the presentation of the Commission proposal expected for Q3 2026.

For more information:

EC DG RTD - news

The results of the consultation are available on the Have your Say Portal.

ERA Act