The Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area (WIDERA) is the fourth ‘transversal’ element of Horizon Europe. It aims to support the overall objectives of the European Research Area (ERA).
Central to the ERA are the objectives of making the European Union the best and most successful environment for research and innovation. It also aims to ensure that all Member States and their regions have the same opportunities to develop and access funding.
What is funded by WIDERA?
WIDERA’s aim is to help reduce existing disparities between R&I leading and lagging countries to enable the EU to advance as a whole.
There are two main areas:
- Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence
- Reforming and enhancing the European Research and Innovation system
The Widening Countries are:
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Estonia
- Greece
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Malta
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Associated Countries with equivalent characteristics in terms of R&I performance
- The Outermost Regions
WIDERA Work Programme 2023-24
The current Work Programme detailing WIDERA calls for 2023 and 2024 has been published by the European Commission. This document includes all call topics and information needed to apply.
Find out more about WIDERA
There are three destinations with the Work Programme with the following calls:
1. Improved Access to Excellence:
- teaming
- winning
- European excellence imitative
- pathways to synergies
- dissemination and exploitation support facility
- hop-on facility
- excellence hubs
2. Attracting and Mobilising the Best Talents:
- ERA Chairs
- ERA Fellowships
- ERA Talents
3. Reforming and Enhancing the EU Research and Innovation System:
- enhancing the European R&I system
- deepening the ERA
Additional opportunities
There are other direct grants available for the following activities:
- Horizon Impact Award
- EU Award for Gender Equality Champions
- Support to the further operation of cOAlition S
- European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) 2023
- Monitoring experts for Horizon 2020 legacy
- Development, maintenance, and promotion of the ERA Talent Platform, including EURAXESS and associated websites and tools + IS Coordinators
The UK National Contact Point (NCP) provides information and advice relating to participation in the Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area (WIDERA).
These actions are implemented through the fourth ‘transversal’ element of Horizon Europe. They provide funding opportunities for mobility and training at all stages of a researcher’s career.
They also seek to make the European Union the best and most successful environment for research and innovation, as well as ensure that all Member States and their regions have the same opportunities to develop and access funding.
There are schemes for individuals to apply directly for funding and funding instruments for organisations to apply as part of larger consortia.
Last updated: 28 March 2023