Research leaders split over proposal to reshape European Research Area

Recommendations from advisory group bring criticism from research and higher education leaders

The European Commission has announced it will present plans for an overhauled European Research Area later this year, but research and higher education leaders have already expressed concern over some of the ideas floated.

The ERA is a package of policies whose current goal is to improve the free movement of researchers and knowledge throughout Europe. But a report from a dedicated EU advisory group—the European Research Area and Innovation Committee—published on 23 January suggests it could be substantially altered.