Websites: European Research Area (ERA) | ERA Green Paper | Public Consultation

With the Green Paper on the European Research Area (ERA), the European Commission launches a broad institutional and public debate on what should be done to create a unified and attractive European Research Area, which would fulfil the needs and expectations of the scientific community, business and citizens.

The debate is open to everyone with an interest in the realisation of a European knowledge society. In particular, the Commission expects to receive responses from research institutions (including universities), researchers, industry, civil society organisations, national and regional public authorities as well as the general public. The Commission will use the results of the debate to prepare initiatives that will be proposed in 2008.

Public Consultation

The public consultation was launched on 1 May 2007 and will be open until 31 August 2007. Further details can be found on the ERA website at: ec.europa.eu/research/era/questionnaire_en.html.

The Green Paper

The Green Paper is set out along 6 main axes:

1. Adequate flow of competent researchers, with high levels of mobility between institutions, disciplines, sectors & countries;
2. World class research infrastructures, integrated, networked & accessible to research teams from across Europe & the world, notably thanks to new generations of electronic communication infrastructures;
3. Excellent research institutions, engaged in effective public-private co-operation and partnerships, forming the core of research and innovation clusters including virtual research communities. Such clusters & communities would be mostly specialised in interdisciplinary areas and would attract a critical mass of human & financial resources;
4. Effective knowledge-sharing notably between public research & industry, as well as with the public at large;
5. Well-coordinated research programmes & priorities, including significant jointly-programmed public research investment at European level with common priorities, coordinated implementation & joint evaluation;
6. Opening the European Research Area to the world with special emphasis on neighbouring countries & a strong commitment to addressing global challenges with Europe's partners.