The European Research Area (ERA) constitutes an initiative of the European Commission, aiming to enlarge the scientific and technological activities in Europe and promote a single European policy for research. ERA is a key component of the strategy defined at Lisbon of making the European Union the world' s most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy.

The creation of ERA is expected to have a significant contribution to the overcoming of crucial weaknesses in the European research system, such as insufficient funding, the lack of an appropriate environment to stimulate research and exploit results, and the fragmented nature of activities and the dispersal of resources.

Specifically, the objective of the ERA initiative combines the following concepts:

• the creation of an "internal market" in research, an area of free movement of knowledge, researchers and technology, with the aim of increasing cooperation, stimulating competition and achieving a better allocation of resources
• a restructuring of the European research fabric, in particular through the improved coordination of national research activities and policies, both in relation to each other and to EU policies
• the development of a European research policy which not only addresses the funding of research activities, but also takes account of all relevant aspects of other EU and national policies.

A basic instrument for the creation of ERA is the 6th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (2002-2006), with a total budget of 17,5 billion euro, and is expected to play a crucial role in coordinating national research policies and enhancing further collaboration at European level.