The main goal of Widening actions is to enhance the participation of the “Widening Countries” in EU Framework Programmes. Figures and studies show a substantial gap between the so-called EU13 countries, which joined the EU after 2004, and the EU14 Member States, something which is also mirrored in the area of research and innovation.
WIDENING COUNTRIES in Horizon 2020
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia and Associated Countries currently eligible for Widening support in H2020
(Innovation Union Competitiveness Report 2013)
WIDENING COUNTRIES in Horizon Europe
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and all Associated Countries with equivalent characteristics in terms of R&I performance and the Outermost Regions (defined in Art. 349 TFEU).
(source: Horizon Europe Work Programme 2021-2022, 11. Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area)One of the ERA-LEARN goal is to support the stronger participation of less represented countries in European partnerships. This aim is pursued by developing policy and practical recommendations in this regard in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including funding organisations, partnerships coordinators and EC representatives.
In 2020 ERA-LEARN published the report: “Inclusiveness in European R&I Partnerships”, which presents the results of an ERA-LEARN survey on inclusiveness targeted at H2020 ERA-NET Cofund and EJP Cofund Programme coordinators. The goal of the survey was to collect information on measures introduced by H2020 ERA-NET Cofund and EJP Cofund Programmes, in order to enhance the participation of the ‘Widening Countries’. The report highlights that:
- Complementary Widening activities, adopted in all stages of partnership implementation, namely, formulating the partnership as well as call preparation, promotion and evaluation phases, result in a bigger number of funded projects with Widening Countries involved.
- Widening approach is beneficial to non-Widening less performing countries who may also make use of Widening measures.
- Widening is especially relevant for Framework Programme 9, Horizon Europe, which introduces the ‘Openness and Transparency principle’ and promotes an inclusive approach in the design and governance of the partnership.
In April 2021 the Webinar on Widening was organized to present best practices related to enhancing Widening Countries’ participation in partnership initiatives and to discuss challenges and opportunities facing Widening Countries in the upcoming Horizon Europe (HE) Partnerships.
For more information please see: https://www.era-learn.eu/news-events/events/join-the-era-learn-webinar-on-widening-in-partnerships
For more information please read:
ERA-LEARN report “Inclusiveness in European R&I Partnerships”
Information about the Webinar on Widening
Openness and Transparency in Horizon Europe
