The specific policy requirements, scope and perspectives of the actions covered under the Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation Part necessitate specific geographical eligibility conditions, in order to maximise their real value and impact. In particular, it is considered that research excellence is a key factor for research and innovation performance and for successful participation in Framework Programmes. Therefore, to serve the ultimate objectives of these actions it is necessary to target those which are low performing in terms of research excellence.

The Composite indicator of Research Excellence(with a corrective threshold of 70% of the EU average) has been selected to distinguish those countries identified as "low R&I performing" or "Widening" countries.

These are: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine.

The actions funded through this work programme are therefore mostly targeting organisations and institutions in the above countries and are described below:

Teaming, will invest in Europe’s research and innovation potential through supporting the creation of new (or upgrading of existing) Centres of Excellence in low R&I performing Member States and Associated Countries on the basis of partnerships with internationallyleading institutions.

Twinning, aims to build on the huge potential of networking for excellence through knowledge transfer and, exchange of best practice between research institutions and leading partners.

ERA Chairs,will bring outstanding researchers to universities and other research organisations, in those countries, that have high potential for research excellence to help them attract and maintain high quality human resources and implement the structural changes necessary to achieve excellence on a sustainable basis.

In order to reach the 2016-2017 Work Programme please click here.

Total Budget: 0.8 Billion Euros