Coimbra Group plays active role in the third EU Conference on Research Careers
22 December 2025
The third EU Conference on Research Careers took place in Brussels on 18-19 December, marking an important milestone: 20 years of the European Charter for Researchers. Over two days, hundreds of research and innovation policy-makers and stakeholders gathered to exchange ideas, network and shape the future of research careers across the European Research Area (ERA).
Several new initiatives and tools aimed at improving research career pathways were presented during the conference, including:
- The publication of a new European Charter for Researchers booklet.
- The final report and recommendations of the Mutual Learning Exercise on Research Careers.
- The launch of the Research and Innovation Careers Observatory (ReICO) jointly developed by the European Commission and the OECD.
- An updated European Competence Framework for Researchers (ResearchComp), featuring a new AI competence and the presentation of its interactive self-assessment tool for researchers.
- The introduction of the European Competence Framework for Research Managers, RMComp
- The announcement of interoperability between EURAXESS and EUROPASS, enabling researchers to combine Europass features with EURAXESS opportunities and services.
- The presentation of a new product under RESAVER, the pan-European occupational pension scheme for research-performing organisations.
The Coimbra Group actively contributed to the conference by supporting the organisation and moderation of two key meetings within the programme.
The first was a meeting of the ERA Structural Policy on Research Careers, which is now supported by all 27 EU Member States, 7 associated countries and 13 stakeholder organisations. During this meeting, participants agreed to establish two sub-working groups tasked with developing co-created guidelines for the implementation of the Council Recommendation on research careers, as well as recommendations to support improved career development and progression. An event is also planned for the end of 2026 to enable ongoing and upcoming Talent Ecosystems projects funded by Horizon Europe to present their work and receive feedback from the group.
The Coimbra Group also contributed to the first workshop of the ERA Structural Policy on the Articulation between Research and Innovation and Higher Education within the ERA. Discussions focused on two main themes: addressing key challenges in aligning EU and national R&I investments, policies, and programmes in support of the “fifth freedom”, and strengthening the articulation between R&I and higher education through joint postgraduate degrees.