This pillar aims to promote the participation of “less performing” EU member states and associated countries in R&I programmes through targeted calls of proposals.
Objectives
WIDENING (Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence):
- To strengthen or build the R&I capacities of every EU countries and regions
- To support the free flow of knowledge by attracting top talent to eligible countries and regions and reversing brain drain into brain gain
ERA (Reforming and Enhancing the European R&I system):
- Prioritize investments and reforms in R&I
- Improve access to excellence across the EU and strengthen R&I systems
- Translate R&I results into the economy to achieve the objectives of the dual transition, boost the resilience and competitiveness of our economies and societies
- Deepen the ERA to advance the free circulation of knowledge and ensure an efficient, equitable and modern R&I system
Priorities
- To create new centers of excellence or improving existing centers in Widening countries/regions
- To support the creation of university networks aimed ultimately at the creation of an alliance of European universities or a similar network
- To promote synergy with European structural funds in the process of internationalization of Widening teams and exploitation of research results on the market
- To attract renowned academics to Widening institutions and consolidate a team of excellence
- To stimulate interoperability and modernization of academic careers in Widening countries/regions
Structure
- 1 – Broaden participation and spread excellence (“WIDENING”)
- Destination 1 – Improve access to excellence
- Destination 2 – Attract and mobilize the best talents
- 2 – Reform and consolidate the European research and innovation system (“ERA”)
Eligible countries
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia; the Associated Countries as well as the Outermost regions.
