Horizon Europe - WIDERA Destination: Widening participation and spreading excellence

Introduction This part of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027 addresses the area “Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area” (WIDERA). The work programme includes two components: I: Widening participation and spreading excellence; II: Strengthening the European Research Area (ERA) by reforming and enhancing the European research and innovation system. The European Commission adopted the Communication on a New ERA for Research and Innovation (2020) to improve the European research and innovation (R&I) landscape, to accelerate the European Union's transition towards climate neutrality and digital leadership, to support recovery from the coronavirus crisis, and to strengthen resilience against future crises1 . The Communication on the implementation of the ERA (2024) takes stock of the progress made since 2020 and highlights areas further actions to achieve ERA’s objectives2 . Aligned with the Competitiveness Compass, the ERA sets sights on a single, borderless market for research, innovation and technology across the European Union, that fosters Europe’s competitiveness and accelerates the green and digital transitions3 . It helps Member States to act more effectively together by aligning their research policies and programmes. The free circulation of researchers and knowledge enables better cross-border cooperation, building of critical mass and continent-wide competition. It promotes inclusive gender equality, research ethics and integrity, mobility, skills and career development opportunities within the European Union. The Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe (Pact for R&I, 2021) demonstrates Member States’ commitment to the ERA4 . It defines priority areas for joint action, sets out ambitions for investments and reforms, and introduces simplified coordination and monitoring. It also outlines common values and principles to guide research and innovation in the European Union and its collaboration with the rest of the world. The calls and other actions in the 2026-2027 WIDERA work programme are designed to contribute toward the implementation of the four priority areas of the Pact for R&I: Priority I: Deepening a truly functioning internal market for knowledge; Priority II: Taking up together the green transition and digital transformation and other challenges with impact on society, and increasing society’s participation in the ERA interconnections between innovation ecosystems across the Union; Priority IV: Advancing concerted R&I investments and reforms. The component “Widening participation and spreading excellence” aims to tackle the R&I gap to move towards a truly integrated and cohesive R&I ecosystem in the European Union, addressing especially the third priority area of the Pact for R&I. Disparities between leading and less advanced countries in terms of R&I performance should be tackled through structural policy reforms at national and regional level aimed at, for example, improving the attractiveness of research careers, internationalisation, effectiveness of management and governance of R&I institutions or matching activities with EU initiatives (e.g., Seals of Excellence). Call topics are bottom-up but applicants are encouraged to take into account key aspects of the political guidelines of the European Commission published in July 20245 and the Competitiveness Compass6 . In this component, the less advanced countries eligible for hosting coordinators of widening actions are 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 (Albania, Armenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Kosovo7 , Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, and once associated Morocco and Egypt), as well as the Outermost Regions (defined in Art. 349 TFEU). Hereinafter, these countries, including the Outermost Regions, will be named 'Widening countries'. The component “Strengthening the European Research Area by reforming and enhancing the European research and innovation system” is designed to support the implementation of the second ERA Policy Agenda, which outlines ERA Structural Policies and ERA Actions for the period 2025-20278 . It aims to build R&I capacity at the level of institutions and ecosystems to foster the adoption of shared EU values and principles outlined in the Pact for R&I, such as evidence-informed policymaking, freedom of scientific research, societal responsibility, gender equality and inclusiveness. The WIDERA work programme also supports the key strategic orientations presented in the Horizon Europe strategic plan 2025-2027 by building up Europe’s R&I capacity to address global challenges and boost its competitiveness9 . Synergies with national, regional and other European programmes, in particular under the cohesion policy, will increase the impact of actions implemented under this work programme.

Destination: Widening participation and spreading excellence The ERA Communication established the need to improve access to excellence as one of the four main strategic goals. Striving towards excellence requires a stronger R&I system where best practice is disseminated faster across the European Union. The European Union’s R&I system needs to promote a more inclusive approach in which all can participate and from which all can benefit. Existing disparities between R&I leading and lagging countries should be tackled by introducing structural policy reforms. Closer links between research and innovation and institutional cooperation to produce high-quality knowledge are key to help bridge these disparities. By building on their pockets of excellence and connecting them to broader networks of excellence countries will be able to upgrade their R&I systems, and allow the European Union as a whole to advance together. This destination will deploy a portfolio of complementary actions to build up and strengthen R&I capacities in Widening countries enabling them to advance to the competitive edge at European and international level. It will contribute to the development of pan-European innovation ecosystems. In addition, particular attention will be paid to cross-cutting objectives set for Horizon Europe, such as inclusive gender equality and open science practices. Expected impact • Increased science and innovation capacities for all actors in the R&I system in Widening countries; • Structural changes leading to modernised and more competitive R&I systems with increased attractiveness and retention of research talents; • Mobilisation of national and European resources for strategic investments; • Higher participation in Horizon Europe and more leadership roles in collaborative projects; • Stronger linkages between academia and business and improved career permeability; • Greater involvement of regional actors in the R&I process; • Excellent talents attracted to institutions including research infrastructures; • Balanced circulation of R&I talents including intersectoral mobility, and improved gender equality and inclusiveness; • Improved linkages and increased mobility between academic and business, notably by overcoming sectoral barriers; • Free circulation of knowledge and expertise in line with ERA priorities.