Addressing persistent disparities in Research and Innovation (R&I) across the EU, where certain countries consistently face underrepresentation in EU-funded projects, the Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area (WIDERA) work program, commonly known as the Widening Programme, was initially introduced under Horizon 2020. Its fundamental goals were to strengthen the EU’s scientific and technological base, foster industrial competitiveness, and deliver on citizens’ priorities. Recognizing the ongoing need to bridge the R&I gap, Horizon Europe (2021-2027) significantly expanded the Widening Programme. This unique and occasionally overlooked part of the Horizon Europe programme aims to enhance the participation of countries with lower R&I performance in Horizon Europe and build their capacity to excel in top-level research.
This article will provide you with a practical exploration of key Widening objectives, expected impacts, funding opportunities, and technical requirements, such as eligibility criteria for participation in Widening actions.
Objectives of the Widening Programme
The Widening Programme is designed to:
- Reduce disparities in research and innovation between Member States and regions across Europe;
- Support knowledge diffusion and exchange between high-performing and low-performing countries;
- Enhance the integration of less-represented countries into the European Research Area (ERA);
- Build up national R&I systems through cooperation, networking, and capacity building;
- Enable better cross-border cooperation, building of critical mass, and continent-wide competition;
- Promote inclusive gender equality, ethics, mobility, high-level skills, and career development opportunities within the EU.
In the long term, these objectives contribute to overarching EU policy goals by:
- Improving the European R&I landscape;
- Helping Member States to act together more effectively by aligning their research policies and programmes;
- Strengthening the resilience of the continent against future crises;
- Building up Europe’s R&I capacity to address global challenges and boost its competitiveness;
- Catalysing the EU’s transition towards climate neutrality and digital leadership.
Areas of intervention and funding opportunities
The program has two main components: Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence, and Reforming and enhancing the European Research and Innovation system.
Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence (WPSE)
This area contributes to building research and innovation capacity for countries lagging behind in line with the policy objectives of the ERA. Participants in the programme will be able to upgrade their R&I systems, strengthen their potential for successful participation in transnational R&I processes, promote networking and access excellence.
Who can participate?
While all organizations eligible for Horizon Europe funding can be involved in Widening actions, the coordination role in the calls under this part of the program is specifically reserved for entities located in Widening countries. The countries include 15 EU member states, 14 Associated Countries demonstrating similar R&I performance levels, and the Outermost Regions, as detailed below.
Widening countries include:
- EU Member States: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia;
- Associated countries eligible for hosting a Widening coordinator: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, and Ukraine;
- Outermost regions: Açores, Canarias, Madeira, Saint-Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane, Mayotte, and La Réunion.
The main funding opportunities within this component are:
- Teaming for Excellence – these actions support the creation or modernising of existing centres of excellence in Widening countries through partnerships between institutions in Widening countries and leading counterparts in other EU countries;
- Twinning – encourages networking activities and collaboration between research institutions from Widening countries acting as coordinators, and internationally leading counterparts at EU level, through knowledge transfer and exchange of best practices. At least two research institutions from two different EU countries or Associated Countries are needed to be eligible;
- ERA Chairs – attracts top researchers to Widening universities and research centres to increase research capacity and improve performance in a scientific domain of choice, aiming to establish a research team fully integrated into the coordinator’s institution;
- Excellence Hubs – foster innovation ecosystems by uniting research and innovation stakeholders from Widening regions and other areas, creating linkages between academia, businesses, governments, and civil society, thereby enhancing regional innovation excellence;
- Hop-on Facility – provides an opportunity for legal entities and research institutions located in Widening countries to become participants in Horizon Europe Pillar II and EIC Pathfinder collaborative projects that have already been selected for funding;
- ERA Talents – intends to improve career interoperability and flexibility and job prospects for R&I professionals across sectors, prioritizing Widening countries in its efforts. The focus here is on cross-sectoral talent circulation and academia-business collaboration for knowledge transfer.
Reforming and enhancing the European Research and Innovation system
This component of the Work Program aims to create a more effective, inclusive, and coherent European Research Area (ERA) and build the foundations for an efficient and fair R&I ecosystem across Europe. It focuses on Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs), which provide policy support to governments and institutions, monitoring and benchmarking tools, best practice exchanges, and capacity building.
The funding opportunities of this component differ from year to year, but typically revolve around topics such as:
- Evidence-informed policymaking;
- Programme-level collaboration among EU Member States and Associated Countries and their R&I funding programmes;
- Freedom of scientific research;
- Societal responsibility;
- Gender equality, equal opportunities, diversity, and inclusiveness.
Conclusion
WIDERA plays a vital role in promoting a more balanced and inclusive R&I ecosystem across the EU. It offers a strategic opportunity for supporting countries that have traditionally been underrepresented in EU-funded R&I activities to step into the spotlight of European research and innovation. By empowering the Member States and Associated Countries that have previously been underrepresented in EU-funded R&I activities, WIDERA fosters excellence, collaboration, and capacity building in those regions, building stronger research ecosystems, boosting national innovation capacity, and opening the door to lasting international collaborations. Ultimately, the success of WIDERA contributes to a more cohesive and competitive Europe, where knowledge and innovation can thrive across all regions.
There are different eligibility requirements and conditions for each specific call. Before deciding whether applying to a call is right for you, it is important to understand both the call and the eligibility criteria. For more help on how to select the best funding scheme for you, have a look at our article here. If you have any further questions or would like us to assist you with your WIDERA application, please do not hesitate to contact us.