ERA-CAREERS

Better Research Careers Start With Better Systems

Funding Program:

Horizon Europe

GA number:

101292779

Duration:

2026–2029

Total Budget:

€1.998.987,50

ERA-CAREERS

Europe has established a strong policy framework for attractive, transparent and sustainable research careers, most notably through the European Charter for Researchers and the ERA Policy Agenda. Yet implementation remains uneven across institutions and countries, with persistent barriers affecting working conditions, career progression, professional development, mobility and talent retention.

ERA-CAREERS addresses this implementation gap by translating the Charter into practical tools, learning opportunities, peer networks and policy guidance. The project works across four key areas: ethics, integrity, gender and open science; assessment, recruitment and progression; working conditions and practices; and research careers and talent development.

Through participatory diagnostics, a Learning & Certification Hub, Communities of Practice and stakeholder-validated policy recommendations, ERA-CAREERS aims to help institutions strengthen research careers and support more sustainable, inclusive and attractive research environments across the European Research Area.

Role of FSH in the Project

As the leader of Work Package 6: Dissemination, Communication and Exploitation, Future Systems Hub is responsible for ensuring that ERA-CAREERS reaches its target audiences, communicates its results effectively, and builds pathways for their uptake and long-term use. Future Systems Hub is:

  • Leading the DEC Strategy: Developing the project’s visual identity, website and integrated Dissemination, Exploitation and Communication strategy, including target-group-specific messages, channels and monitoring.
  • Driving Communication and Outreach: Leading communication campaigns throughout the project, using digital channels, social media, newsletters, videos, podcasts, media outreach and partner-led activities to engage researchers, institutions, career-support professionals and other stakeholders.
  • Supporting Exploitation and Sustainability: Contributing to the uptake and long-term use of project results, including the Learning Hub, Community of Practice Hub and validated institutional tools, as well as sustainability activities and new funding opportunities.
  • Monitoring Reach and Engagement: Tracking communication, dissemination and uptake through the project’s DEC Dashboard and using the results to adapt activities and improve outreach throughout the project.

ERA-CAREERS by numbers

  • 18 consortium partners across 8 European countries
  • 5 national clusters covering Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland and Italy
  • 3 thematic clusters connecting pan-European networks and expertise
  • ≥200 participatory narratives collected through the Most Significant Change methodology
  • ≥32 institutions involved in the participatory diagnostic process, with at least 50% external stakeholders
  • ≥20 micro-learning units aligned with the European Charter for Researchers
  • ≥3 learning tracks for researchers, career-support professionals and strategic actors
  • ≥600 learners engaged through the Learning & Certification Hub
  • ≥150 full certifications delivered
  • 1 Pan-European Community of Practice Hub and 4 thematic Communities of Practice
  • ≥8 validated tools developed through the Community of Practice ecosystem
  • ≥2 ERA Policy Briefs and 1 ERA-CAREERS Research Careers Summit