The European Union has made significant strides in research and innovation over the past decade, which was highlighted in the newly published 2024 European Research Area (ERA) Scoreboard and Dashboard
This data covers the period between 2010 and 2022; the report showed progress across several key areas while also showing the need for continued investment to keep strengthening Europe’s position in the global knowledge economy.
The benefits so far of ERA
The ERA, now approaching its 25th anniversary in 2025, aims to build a unified internal market for research and innovation.
The ERA Scoreboard and Dashboard are part of the ERA Monitoring Mechanism, a framework designed to support evidence-based policymaking and rack the implementation of common priorities across the EU and countries associated with Horizon Europe.
Progress has been measured across four main ERA priorities: creating a more integrated knowledge market, supporting the green and digital transitions while enhancing societal engagement, improving access to research excellence, and strengterning coordinated research investments and reforms.
The Scoreboard assesses performance at the EU level through 19 key indicators, while the Dashboard offers a more detailed national analysis based on over 50 indicators.
The EU has shown improvement in areas such as open science, gender equality, and international engagement.
Developments in Europe’s research landscape
The share of open-access scientific publications increased from 56.8% in 2010 to 77.7% in 2022. At the same time, the proportion of women in senior academic roles rose from 19.7% to 27.3%, and the percentage of international doctoral students in the EU also increased, reaching 22.7%. These developments show a growing inclusivity and openness in Europe’s research landscape.
There has also been a slight increase in overall investment in research and development. The share of GDP dedicated to R&D rose from 1.97% in 2010 to 2.27% in 2022, indicating an upward trend in financial commitment.
However, the reports make it clear that the current efforts are insufficient to address ongoing structural challenges.
Areas of progress across the EU
Some areas that can be improved include creating better collaboration between research institutions and industry, improving research mobility, and increasing the long-term strategic planning of R&I policies.
The ERA Dashboard reveals that although many countries are making progress in developing research infrastructure and promoting global cooperation, significant disparities remain across the EU.
Uneven progress across Europe: Pushing research and innovation
“Widening Countries”, EU Member States and associated nations with less developed R&I ecosystems, have shown good signs of growth.
However, they continue to face barriers to efficient public fund usage and building effective partnerships with external research bodies.
The private sector’s role in research investment is another concern, with many countries still lagging in mobilising private funding for innovation.
The reports also highlight uneven performance in environmental R&D investments. While some Member States have consistently supported green research, others struggle to keep pace, pointing to the need for stronger policy initiatives to support the green and digital transitions across the EU.
In the future, these findings will feed into further EU-level assessments. An 18-month Monitoring Report and individual ERA Country Reports are due to follow, providing more personalised insights into national progress. The second ERA Policy Agenda for 2025–2027 is also expected to be adopted soon under the upcoming Polish Presidency of the EU Council.
