Report of the 2025 High Level Workshop on the European Research Area

The 17th High Level Workshop on the European Research Area was co-organised with the Research Council of Norway and UK Research and Innovation, and took place in Oslo on 18–20 November 2025. It brought together senior members of Science Europe Member Organisations, policy makers, academics, and representatives from the wider research community. The workshop report highlights key discussions on maintaining strong international collaboration while addressing growing geopolitical tensions and research security considerations. It underlines the importance of a robust and autonomous EU Framework Programme for R&I, and of sustaining excellence-driven research as the foundation of Europe’s long-term competitiveness. Using polar research as a case study, the event also illustrated how global challenges, geopolitical dynamics, and scientific collaboration intersect in practice, highlighting both opportunities and trade-offs in balancing openness and security. The report serves to inform ongoing discussions on the next Framework Programme and support shared efforts to strengthen a resilient, open, and collaborative European Research Area.