CoARA Response to the ERA Act Consultation

In response to the recent ERA Act Consultation, CoARA welcomes the European Commission's initiative to introduce an ERA Act and strongly supports its objective of strengthening coherence, trust, and effectiveness within the European Research Area (ERA). Reforming research assessment is a core enabler of ERA objectives, including excellence, openness, inclusiveness, and global competitiveness. CoARA strongly recommends that the principles set out in the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment (ARRA) be recognised within the ERA Act as the primary reference framework for policy harmonisation in the area of research assessment. By firmly endorsing shared principles and policy harmonisation, while allowing flexibility in implementation, the ERA Act can accelerate reform, strengthen trust, enable the 5th Freedom, and safeguard academic freedom—without constraining institutional autonomy or stifling innovation.