Members of Academia Europaea are invited to a roundtable discussion entitled “From Barriers to Bridges”, to be held on 5 November 2025 (09:00–12:00), as part of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences’ 200th anniversary programme series.

THE CHALLENGE#

Despite substantial EU investment in frontier research, Europe’s scientific landscape remains fragmented and unevenly competitive.

Data from the European Research Council (2013–2024) highlight this imbalance:

• More than 96% of ERC funding is concentrated in just 16 countries, primarily in Western and Central Europe,
• While the remaining 27 ERA countries, including those in Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe, collectively receive less than 4% of supported projects.

This disparity poses a serious risk to Europe’s long-term position in global science, particularly in comparison with the United States and emerging research leaders in Asia (China, Hong Kong, Singapore).

THE NEED#

To address this imbalance, Europe requires a more cohesive and competitive European Research Area (ERA) – one that:

• strengthens research capacity in underrepresented regions,
• empowers talented scientists to initiate and lead world-class projects,
• and ensures a sustainable distribution of excellence across the continent.

A PROPOSED WAY FORWARD#

The roundtable discussion will consist of three parts:

1. Experiences from within widening – experts from the EU and national academies who have already participated in widening programmes will share their insights – by invitation.
2. Lessons from success stories – representatives from countries that have successfully bridged the gap will present their best practices – by invitation.
3. Open forum for new ideas – contributors with fresh proposals and perspectives will be invited to present their visions – by open call.

---

Download the invitation.