Pillar IV: Upgrading the EU’s independent knowledge on China's Science, Technology and Innovation system

The guiding policy framework of this destination is the Communication "A New ERA for Research and Innovation"^[1], the Council Recommendation on the Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe (Pact for R&I)^[2], and the European Research Area (ERA) Policy Agenda (2025-2027)^[3]. The funded actions will strengthen the ERA by promoting the freedom of movement of researchers, scientific knowledge, and technology and by providing new evidence for better-informed policymaking. More details on the ERA policy framework are in the introduction to the WIDERA work programme 2026-2027.

The EU Member States, Associated Countries, R&I stakeholders, and the Commission work together to implement the ERA. This process is steered by the ERA Policy Agenda, which identifies specific ERA Actions (time-limited initiatives) and Structural Policies (long-term policies) designed to tackle concrete challenges faced by R&I communities in Europe. This work programme is designed to support this process. The funded actions will build knowledge and capacities at the level of institutions and ecosystems to adopt reforms and practices in line with the ERA Policy Agenda, thereby contributing to the implementation of the ERA.

The destination will be implemented in synergy with the European Higher Education Area and the European Education Area, especially in relation to R&I careers and institutional changes in universities and research organisations. Several call topics and other actions will also contribute to the implementation of the European framework for research careers^[4].

The destination includes two calls with 13 topics in total as well as other actions, targeting a wide range of R&I stakeholders, e.g., universities, research performing and funding organisations, research evaluation agencies, networks of researchers, publishers, industry and start-ups, policymakers, local authorities, and public bodies.

The effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH) disciplines is encouraged under this destination, including the involvement of SSH experts, institutions, and the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, to enhance the societal impact of project activities.

The ERA Platform showcases results from Horizon Europe-funded projects, making them available to a wide range of stakeholders to facilitate progress in ERA policy areas. Applicants are encouraged to consider these results as well as propose new tools, resources, and visual material that can be featured on the platform.

All topics in the 2026 and 2027 ERA calls are organised around four pillars, designed to enable the funded projects to strengthen R&I capacities across four complementary dimensions while addressing selected ERA Actions and Structural Policies. The table below summarises this approach, making it easier for applicants to choose their preferred policy area and type of activity. Each call topic title refers to its corresponding pillar.

2026 and 2027 ERA calls: pillar structure

Proposals under this destination should set out a credible pathway to one or several of the following expected impacts:

• Effective and sustainable structural institutional changes aligned with the ERA priorities;
• Sustainable ecosystems established around the ERA priorities through enhanced cooperation, coordination and alignment;
• Increased trust in science and alignment of R&I with society’s needs;
• Strengthened evidence base for advancing the implementation of the ERA;
• Increased reproducibility, trustworthiness and transparency of scientific research;
• A more open, equitable and inclusive research and innovation ecosystem;
• A research ethics and integrity ecosystem continually enhanced with robust methodologies that encourage benefit sharing and prevent ethics dumping;
• Systemic reform of research assessment through the recognition of the diverse outputs, practices, and activities which maximise the quality and impact of research;
• Improved research careers and mobility, based on the European framework for research careers, fostering knowledge flows and career interoperability across sectors and countries;
• Stronger translation of R&I results into society and economy;
• Enhanced gender equality and inclusiveness, leading to research excellence and more innovative, socially relevant, and economically impactful outcomes;
• Increased uptake, effectiveness and impact of environmentally sustainable research;
• More resilient and future-proof R&I policies and long-term strategies with effectively integrated strategic intelligence and strengthened foresight communities;
• A more strategic, coherent, and evidence-based approach towards cooperation with China in the area of science, technology, and innovation.

[1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0628&from=EN.

[2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32021H2122.

[3] https://european-research-area.ec.europa.eu/era-policy-agenda-2025-2027.

[4] Council Recommendation of 18 December 2023 on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/C/2023/1640/oj.

Expected Outcome:

Proposals will deliver on the impact of ‘A more strategic, coherent, and evidence-based approach towards cooperation with China in the area of science, technology, and innovation (STI)’. It contributes toward the ERA Structural Policy “Implementing the Global Approach to R&I cooperation”, while taking into account the ERA Action on “Enhancing research security”.

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes:

• Improved understanding and monitoring of China's STI system to support the development of strategic foresight and evidence-based policies, and further bolster the EU’s ecosystem for independent knowledge on contemporary China;
• Innovative interdisciplinary approaches and methodologies are made available to R&I practitioners and policymakers, allowing for improved assessment of critical technology areas where China has achieved or is expected to achieve breakthroughs, and areas where challenges persist;
• A well-connected network of experts on China's STI ecosystem that increase attractiveness for EU researchers, especially young researchers, to pursue research careers on contemporary China.

Scope:

This topic aims to support the creation of new knowledge and strengthen expertise and networks in the EU on China’s science, technology, and innovation (STI) system. It seeks to bolster the EU’s ongoing endeavour to upgrade independent knowledge on contemporary China in Europe^[1], which addresses the need for the EU to understand China on its own terms: not through the lens of external sources, but from its own perspective based on independent EU’s analysis.

This action should bring together think-tanks, universities, research organisations, and expert networks based in eligible countries. Proposals should build on the activities and results of relevant past or ongoing initiatives and projects at European and/or national level^[2]. The selected project is expected to closely coordinate with the European Commission during implementation,

To achieve the expected outcomes, proposals should address the activities outlined below and propose any additional, complementary activities:

• Build a comprehensive framework that facilitates the creation and sharing of knowledge and monitoring of China's STI system. This includes generating new and compiling existing knowledge, tools, and resources on developments in China’s STI policies, legal framework, government structures, narratives, and strategies for international collaborations.
• Develop and test innovative interdisciplinary approaches and methodologies for assessing China’s advancements in critical technology areas (e.g., artificial intelligence, advanced semiconductors, quantum, biotechnologies)^[3] and for evaluating their impact on the European economic security, strategic autonomy, and on the EU’s ability to achieve the objectives of the Competitiveness Compass^[4]. Applicants are encouraged to propose foresight exercises to identify new disruptive, emerging technologies beyond those mentioned above.
• Ensure collaboration between EU experts on China and technical experts (e.g., engineers, technology experts, economists, legal experts). Particular attention should be paid to actively involving young EU researchers in project activities.

Expected project duration is up to 3 years without prejudice to a longer duration if justified.

[1] In line with EU priorities, see EU-China – A Strategic Outlook Communication, https://commission.europa.eu/system/files/2019-03/communication-eu-china-a-strategic-outlook.pdf; the European Economic Security Strategy, https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/strategy/strategy-research-and-innovation/europe-world/international-cooperation/strategic-autonomy-and-european-economic-and-research-security_en; Competitiveness Compass https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025DC0030.

[2] For example, projects funded under the topics HORIZON-CL2-2021-TRANSFORMATIONS-01-07, and HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ERA-01-06.

[3] Recommendation on critical technology areas

[4] Objectives in the Competitiveness Compass: Closing the innovation gap; Decarbonising our economy; Reducing dependencies, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025DC0030.