Contact details
ERAC is the EU's strategic policy advisory committee on topics related to research and innovation (R&I) within the European Research Area (ERA).
The European Research Area (ERA) is a unified research area, open to the world, which enables free circulation of:
- researchers
- scientific knowledge
- technology
ERAC documents
Official Council meeting documents of ERAC and its sub-groups are available in the public register.
ERAC's mission
The Committee’s main mission is to advise the Council (in particular the Competitiveness Council), the European Commission and EU member states in ERA priority areas:
- Priority 1: more effective national research systems
- Priority 2a: optimal transnational cooperation and competition
- Priority 2b: research infrastructures
- Priority 3: open labour market for researchers
- Priority 4: gender equality and gender mainstreaming in research
- Priority 5: optimal circulation, access to and transfer of scientific knowledge
- Priority 6: international cooperation
Members of ERAC
The members of ERAC are delegates from EU member states and the Commission.
Non-EU countries associated to EU research and innovation programmes may take part as observers:
- Albania
- Armenia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Faroe Islands
- North Macedonia
- Georgia
- Iceland
- Israel
- Republic of Moldova
- Montenegro
- Norway
- Serbia
- Switzerland
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Ukraine
How ERAC works
ERAC meets four times a year in plenary sessions. The committee is co-chaired by the European Commission and an elected representative from an EU member state. The Council provides its secretariat.
ERAC is in charge of the overall objective of developing more effective national research systems (priority 1). Together with ERAC, six sub-groups are in charge of advancing and monitoring other specific ERA priorities.
High Level Group on Joint Programming (GPC)
The GPC coordinates efforts for a more efficient use of resources within ERA joint programming initiatives (priority 2a). Joint programming is a voluntary process whereby member states work together to address major societal challenges such as:
- climate change
- energy supply
- food supply
- big diseases
- Mandate of the High Level Group on Joint Programming (GPC)
- Joint programming initiatives (European Commission)
Strategic Forum for International scientific and technological Cooperation (SFIC)
SFIC facilitates the development, implementation and monitoring of the international dimension of the ERA (priority 6). It aims to identify areas for coordinated or joint initiatives with countries and regions outside the EU.
Standing Working Group on Open Science and Innovation (SWG OSI)
The SWG OSI advises on policies and initiatives related to open science and open innovation (priority 5).
Standing Working Group on Human Resources and Mobility (SWG HRM)
The SWG HRM helps to promote cross-border mobility and career possibilities for researchers (priority 3). It addresses concrete obstacles researchers face with cross-border mobility and cooperation, such as:
- employment rules
- funding procedures
- access to research infrastructure
Standing Working Group on Gender in Research and Innovation (SWG GRI)
The EU aims to achieve gender equality and equal opportunities in research careers. To integrate the gender dimension in R&I content and programmes (priority 4), the SWG GRI:
- provides support on R&I policy challenges linked to gender equality
- exchanges knowledge and good practice
- facilitates the regular collection of data and indicators
The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI)
ESFRI's mission is to provide support to policy-making on research infrastructures in Europe (priority 2b).