Talk:European Research Area

Open questions

I would like answers to the below questions would in this article, though I have not found any info myself.

• How is the ERA linked to the Framework Programmes?
• How are the most concerned DGs (i.e. Research and JRC) involved in the ERA?
• What are the concrete aspects of the ERA for knowledge workers? Is the bologna process part of it?

--Drdan 11:56, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

I have the same questions!!!

-- Konkreteswissen (talk) 09:38, 18 March 2009 (UTC)

we'll do our best lighting the above mysteries with a humble request: to restrain from the editors war for some while at least. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Technologist9 (talk • contribs) 16:07, 7 January 2010 (UTC)

ERA "explained"

Some questions has been raised above on ERA, and I'll give a few short explanations.

1. How is the ERA linked to the Framework Programme?

ERA is much newer than the FPs, dating only from 2000. However, after the idea of ERA was launched a prime objective of the subsequent FPs were the creation of ERA.

FP6 was structured into three main areas of which two mentioned ERA ("Structuring the European Research Area" and "Strengthening the foundations of the European Research Area"; the third was titled "Focusing and integrating Community research" and comprised most of the FP6 budget: 65%)

FP7 dropped the direct reference to ERA in the "labeling" but three of its four main areas corresponds roughly to the FP6's two ERA categories, the fourth is equivalent to the "Focusing and integrating..." area and still the largest in terms of funding (61% of the FP7 budget).

(http://hdl.handle.net/1800/4328)

So basicly, ERA is the grand vision, while the FPs are the actual instruments to promote its creation.

2. How are the most concerned DGs (i.e. Research and JRC) involved in the ERA?

DG Research is of course involved through the FPs, but have also in cooperation with JRC created a monitoring unit called ERAWATCH, whose goals are to promote ”evidence based policy making” (http://cordis.europa.eu/erawatch/, 12-01-2009, 13:25).
This means mainly policy advice and development, and also the running of a so-called Intelligence Service to conduct analyses within the following areas:
"periodic reviews of the status and evolution of research systems and policies and governance structures in EU Member States and beyond"
"emerging themes and trends in the structure, content and evolution of research systems"

"synthesis and overview, at the European level, of Member State progress towards the various objectives of ERA and the Lisbon partnertship [sic] for growth and jobs."

(http://cordis.europa.eu/erawatch/index.cfm?fuseaction=intService.home, 12-01-2009, 13:45)


3. What are the concrete aspects of the ERA for knowledge workers? Is the bologna process part of it?
Well overall it is supposed to function just like the EU common market in general, that is enabling the free movement of people, goods and services. So in a certain sense its role is to promote the single market and thus enable knowledge workers to flow (and compete with each other) freely within the EU.
Regarding the Bologna Process, it is not a part of ERA as such, but a part of the related vision of an EHEA (European Higher Education Area). There is some overlap, as higher education overlaps with research. What is far more relevant for ERA is the Lisbon Strategy (now replaced by Europe 2020) of developing EU competitiveness, and which envisioned ERA as one of the means to accomplish this goal.

Mojowiha (talk) 23:48, 28 March 2011 (UTC)