ERA-NETs and the realisation of ERA: increasing coordination and reducing fragmentation

The primary objective of the ERA-NET scheme was to support the realisation of the European Research Area (ERA). With the new impetus recently given to the ERA concept by Europe 2020, Innovation Union, the development of Horizon 2020 and the consultation on the ERA Framework it is an appropriate time to consider whether this objective is being met. This brief draws on the European Commission's information platform on transnational research collaboration, NETWATCH. Through analysis of its comprehensive database on the nature and operation of ERA-NETs and other collaborative networks, it develops an overview of the scheme's success. There is clear evidence that cooperation has taken place between research programme actors, leading to benefits in terms of mutual learning and joint activities, most notably the number of joint calls launched. The extent to which this represents genuine coordination of European research programmes and has led to a reduction in duplication and fragmentation of activities and the achievement of critical mass emerge as key questions for the ongoing assessment activities of NETWATCH.