Cofund on Biotechnologies

Making sense of acronyms

ERA – the European Research Area, is a unified area open to the world, in which scientific knowledge, technology and researchers circulate freely. The creation of this single market for knowledge, research and innovation is currently underway.

EU Framework Programs for Research and innovation play an important role in the creation and development of the ERA. H2020 is the current EU Research and Innovation program, running from 2014 to 2020, with targeted funding in three pillars – Excellent science, Competitive industry and Tackling societal challenges, using different instruments. 

An ERA-NET COFUND is one of H2020 instruments, taking the form of a public-public partnership (e.g. ministries, funding agencies) in a given scientific field for a limited period (normally 5 years). The main purpose of the partnership is to jointly fund transnational research and innovation consortia (think money for research obtained through competitive calls) and perform other activities (e.g. prepare a strategic research and innovation agenda in the field, organize conferences, summer schools), provide training opportunities.