The SECURE project was among more than 20 Horizon Europe initiatives showcased at the WIDERA Feedback-to-Policy workshop in Brussels, opened by Marc Tachelet, Director of the European Research Executive Agency (REA), and Jean-David Malo, Director of the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA).
The event brought together project coordinators, ERA Forum members, research working party representatives, and Programme Committee delegates, all sharing a common goal — to strengthen the European Research Area (ERA) and advance Europe’s research and innovation ecosystem.
Throughout the day, projects funded under the Horizon Europe WIDERA Work Programme presented their contributions to achieving a truly integrated ERA through concrete actions advancing gender equality, open science, the development of centres of excellence, stronger connections between science and citizens, and more sustainable research careers. These projects serve as both a vital instrument in implementing ERA priorities and a key source of evidence for shaping future European research and innovation policies.
Gareth O’Neill presented the SECURE project and took the opportunity to introduce SECURE2 as its follow-up initiative, outlining how the new project builds on the achievements of its predecessor. Alongside projects such as GenderSAFE, FutuResilience, FinEst Centre for Smart Cities, and AIOLIA, SECURE contributed to discussions on advancing research assessment systems, supporting researchers’ careers, and fostering a more sustainable and inclusive European research landscape.
Representatives of the European Commission highlighted that the outcomes presented at the workshop are “just the tip of the iceberg,” with many more results and success stories from WIDERA projects available to explore. The workshop reaffirmed the collective ambition to achieve a true “Fifth Freedom” within the European single market — the free circulation of knowledge — and to build a fair and prosperous future for European research and innovation.
Illustration: eufundingportal.eu
