The objective of the European Research Area is to inspire the best talents to enter research careers, incite industry to invest more in European research and strongly contribute to the creation of sustainable growth and jobs. The Framework Programmes are instruments to achieve ERA objectives.

History of ERA:

In 2000, the European Union decided to create the European Research Area, an "internal market" for research, an area of free movement of knowledge, researchers and technology; structuring and coordinating national research policies and activities and developing a common European research policy.

In 2009, the ERA was incorporated into the EU Treaties, setting out the objective of the EU to achieve a European Research Area in which researchers, scientific knowledge and technology circulate freely.

In 2018, the Council of the EU and the European Commission initiated a process to renew the ERA, and establish a new ERA narrative, new objectives and a more effective ERA governance.

In late 2021, the Council of the EU adopted a Pact for Research and Innovation with values and principles guiding research and innovation and priority areas for joint action as a first key achievement. In addition to this new governance framework, an ERA Policy Agenda with 20 voluntary actions to contribute to the priority areas of the Pact for R&I has been defined for the time period of 2022 to 2024.