Strengthening research institutions with a focus on university-based research : report of the ERA Expert Group

The overall objective of the Expert Group (EG) on 'strengthening research institutions with a focus on university-based research', launched in the context of the follow-up to the Commission's Green Paper on The European Research Area: New Perspectives, was to identify and define possible measures and actions to strengthen research active universities. In its final report, the EG highlights some of the problems and challenges faced by universities, focusing on four key areas: - Funding and Autonomy, - Governance, Accountability and Performance, - Collaboration and Partnerships, - Human Resources. It proposes 8 specific recommendations and further policy actions that can be undertaken at institutional, national and European level, to advance in the process of modernisation of the European universities.