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ALLEA Contributes to ERA Workshop on a European Framework for Science for Policy (S4P)

On 9 July 2026, ALLEA participated in an European Research Area (ERA) workshop launching a collaborative process to develop a common European framework for science for policy (S4P).

On 9 July 2026, ALLEA participated in the workshop “Advancing the European Science for Policy Ecosystem: Towards a European Framework for Science for Policy”. The event was organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) and the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and brought together representatives from ministries, research organisations, universities, European institutions, and stakeholder organisations to launch a collaborative process for strengthening Europe’s science-for-policy ecosystem.  

Representing ALLEA, Senior Policy and Strategy Officer Matthias Johannsen contributed to discussions on developing a common European framework for science for policy. Through interactive sessions, participants identified shared priorities and explored ways to strengthen collaboration between science and policymaking across Europe.

The workshop is part of the ERA Action “Advancing the European Science for Policy (S4P) Ecosystem”, which aims to foster stronger science-for-policy structures and cooperation across Europe. It marks the start of a longer-term process, with participants continuing to develop the framework in the coming months.

ALLEA takes part in this process as a stakeholder organisation in the European Commission’s ERA Forum.

ALLEA contributes to European Commission’s consultation on the European Research Area

ALLEA submitted a response to the European Commission’s public consultation on the future of the European Research Area (ERA). This initiative seeks to relaunch and revitalize the ERA and make it better able to address major challenges such as the green and digital transitions, or the COVID-19 crisis.

In its position, ALLEA supports continuous ambition “to broaden the ERA’s outreach and connectivity by promoting open science and research mobility within and beyond its borders, as well as access to research facilities and collections”.

“As innovation is not restricted to technological and economic growth but also concerns social and cultural adaption, it is critical to broaden the remit of the ERA and that Union programmes consider societal values, including fairness/equality, resilience/sustainability, diversity, openness, transparency and trustworthiness,” the contribution states.

The statement points out that “the core of the EU network remains mainly composed of EU-15 participants, with only a restricted number of institutions acting as hubs. Systematic efforts and specific mechanisms are required to encourage researchers across the career cycle and participants from EU-13 and Associated countries to actively shape the EU-wide networks across the ERA.”

The consultation was closed on 3 August and all stakeholder contributions are available here.

Read ALLEA’s contribution.

ALLEA urges European Parliament to protect Horizon Europe from budget cuts

ALLEA released a statement today in reaction to the European Council deal for the the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2021-2027) and on the EU plan to tackle the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the statement, this proposal represents “a severe and long-term threat to Europe’s capacities as a world leader in science, research and innovation“. ALLEA welcomes the ambition of Members of the European Parliament to seek and secure a larger budget for Horizon Europe and other key research and innovation funding measures:

“In times when fundamental and applied research, evidence-based policy making, and scientific collaboration across boundaries and disciplines are more important than ever to tackle the challenges ahead posed by the pandemic and beyond, governments need to prioritise and increase R&I funding both on national and EU level. 

ALLEA is particularly concerned about the agreement’s implications for the next EU R&I funding programme whose budget has been cut multiple times throughout the Council summit on 17-20 July. Horizon Europe’s budget is now decreased by more than 15% as compared to the latest European Commission’s proposal (May 2020), and is one third lower than the €120 billion figure proposed by the European Parliament, supported widely across the European scientific community including ALLEA and its academies.”

Read the full statement.