Proposals are expected to envisage a duration of up to 3 years without prejudice to a longer duration if duly justified.

Area 1: Strengthen uptake of solutions for the reproducibility of scientific results

This area addresses ERA Action 1 that aims to support open sharing, seamless access, and reliable re-use of research data, centred on the FAIR principles. Practices that increase the reproducibility of scientific results contribute to higher reuse of these results and to increased efficiency, trustworthiness, and overall quality of research.

The area supports the uptake of state-of-the art tools, practices and methodologies that can increase the reproducibility of research results, drawing on activities and results of any relevant projects, networks and initiatives. The project activities should involve actors such as RPOs, RFOs, researchers, scientific publishers, and scientific service and infrastructure providers. At least the following activities should be included:

• Deploy, demonstrate and upscale interventions in real-life environments to increase reproducibility of scientific results, targeting cross-discipline and discipline-specific factors that contribute to lack of reproducibility. Interventions may include the application of policies, engagement in practices, or mainstreaming the utilisation of tools, services and infrastructures that enable reproducibility of research results.
• Monitor and analyse the effects of the implemented interventions on the efficiency of research processes, the trustworthiness of results, the reuse of results in further research and/or innovation, and the overall quality of scientific production. Deployment and demonstrations should be of sufficient duration and scale to assess their effects.
• Support mutual learning, and exchange and dissemination of best practices across organisations in Europe and develop evidence-based recommendations for policymakers and research organisations.

Area 2: Advance reforms to research assessment

This area addresses ERA Action 3 that aims to support reform of research assessment toward recognising the diversity of research practices, activities and outputs, moving away from relying mainly on the quantity of publications or the prestige of their publishing venues, to achieve higher quality and impact of research.

The area supports the uptake of good practices and recommendations that facilitate implementation of research assessment reform, building on activities and results of any relevant projects and initiatives, especially the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment, the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA), and the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA). The project activities should involve diverse research organisations like universities, RPOs, RFOs, academies and learned societies, as well as researchers’ organisations, researchers and support staff, from diverse disciplines and at various career stages. At least the following activities should be included:

• Identify and discuss barriers and enablers to reform at national level and shared implementation avenues, and maximise the roll-out of reforms through engagement with CoARA Working Groups and National Chapters and other communities of practice.
• Support the development of change management strategies within organisations to facilitate the implementation of reforms and to build trust towards reformed research assessment systems.
• Develop and coordinate actions to raise awareness about good practices and support the implementation of reforms via workshops, training and associated materials, and/or dedicated conference(s) targeting researchers.

Area 3: Establish communities of practice to strengthen research careers

This area addresses ERA Action 4 that aims to strengthen research careers in all sectors, tackling aspects such as precarity and working conditions, skills, inter-sectoral and inter-disciplinary mobility, career development and progression.

The area supports the wide uptake by organisations of the provisions of the framework established by the Council Recommendation on research careers and the Charter for Researchers, and builds on the results and recommendations from the Mutual Learning Exercise on research careers and any previous or ongoing relevant initiatives and projects at European or national level contributing to the implementation of the new framework. The project activities should involve universities, RPOs, RFOs, researchers’ organisations, governmental organisations, and other employers of researchers in the public and private sector. At least the following activities should be included:

• Establish an intersectoral consortium of at least 15 partners with the objective of creating an inclusive community of practice that supports cooperation and exchange of good practices to implement the new framework to strengthen research careers at European, national, regional and organisational level. The consortium should demonstrate in the proposal how and to what extent it will involve stakeholders outside the consortium in the community of practice, with a view to maximising the impact of activities on strengthening research careers.
• Map challenges, exchange good practices, including by developing relevant platforms, organise mutual learning events, intra- and extra-consortium cooperation with stakeholders, and networking.
• Develop and disseminate recommendations for peers and for policymakers in relation to aspects covered by the new framework to strengthen research careers, on the basis of internal exchanges and practices, as well as significant outcomes from other projects.

Area 4: Establish a European network of knowledge valorisation intermediaries

This area addresses ERA Action 7 that aims to enhance knowledge sharing and valorisation in Europe. Intermediaries are crucial for valorisation as they help connect researchers with actors who can drive economic and societal value from research results, data and knowledge.

The area supports the uptake of the new Guiding Principles Knowledge Valorisation and Codes of Practice through upgrading the capacities of intermediaries. By improving their skills and services in line with the new guidelines, intermediaries can effectively increase connections between all R&I actors when it comes to intellectual assets management, standardisation, industry-academia co-creation and citizen engagement. The project activities should involve entities that typically act as intermediaries. At least the following activities should be included:

• Set up a European network of intermediaries to activate intensive and inclusive multi-actor collaboration and networking.
• Develop trainings and a knowledge valorisation toolbox based on the codes of practice, to be made freely available for all R&I actors.
• Support mobility and outreach, including cross-border secondments between intermediary organisations, replication of best practices, and novel awareness and outreach activities.

Area 5: Upgrade capacities of knowledge and technology transfer professionals in universities and research performing organisations

This area addresses ERA Action 7 that aims to enhance knowledge sharing and valorisation in the ERA, reaching large communities of stakeholders. Knowledge and technology transfer offices (KTO/TTO) in universities and RPOs require a broader range of skills to deliver fit-for-purpose services for R&I actors to achieve greater uptake of economic and societal value.

The area supports the uptake of the new Guiding Principles and Codes of Practice through upgrading skills and services provided by KTO/TTOs. The action should involve KTO/TTOs, societal and industrial actors, and policymakers and contribute to closing the gender gap through the design of activities. By improving their skills and services in line with the new guidelines, KTO/TTOs can effectively increase connections between all R&I actors when it comes to intellectual asset management, standardisation, industry-academia co-creation and citizen engagement. At least the following activities should be included:

• Develop and coordinate actions for expanding and strengthening skills and capacities of KTO/TTOs, for example, through trainings, peer learning and workshops.
• Develop new services and adaptation of existing services in line with the Guiding Principles, as well as support new training needs, so that KTO/TTOs can respond to the requirements of researchers and students by designing and delivering high quality curricula for greater knowledge valorisation.
• Engage societal and industrial actors, as well as policy makers to ensure the new and adapted services correspond to the needs of these stakeholders, while developing appropriate links with other parts of the work programme, such as EU Missions and EIC Business Acceleration Services.

Area 6: Strengthen capacities and recognition for research management

This area addresses ERA Action 17 that aims to enhance capacities and professional recognition of research managers in the ERA and address their challenges, such as a lack of professional accreditation, uneven distribution of expertise, and a constant need for new skills.

The area supports the uptake of good practices, recommendations and results stemming from any relevant projects and initiatives. The action should involve current and aspiring research managers and their employers, human resource departments, career advisors, educational institutions, and policymakers. At least the following activities should be included:

• Create a centralised online hub for networking, collaborative learning and information sharing among research managers and their employers to standardise and enhance research management across the ERA.
• Provide research managers with tailored training programmes and career guidance services, from workshops to online courses, aligned with the development of the careers and competency framework for research managers (RM Comp), enhancing their skill sets and career progression opportunities.
• Execute a strategic communication plan that includes outreach activities, promotional campaigns, support to evidence-based policymaking, and advocacy efforts to raise the profile and recognition of research management as a vital and distinct profession within the R&I ecosystem, including developing and disseminating recommendations for RPOs and policymakers.