European Commission - Directorate General for Energy
European Commission - Directorate General for Energy
12/16/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/16/2025 05:05
European experts convene in Brussels for the 4th RIMA meeting to strengthen Research and Innovation synergies
The "European Network of Research & Innovation Authorities of Cohesion Policy and Member States' Research & Innovation Authorities (RIMA)" met for its fourth meeting, which was the first one held under the new ERA Policy Agenda 2025-27. The network is chaired by DG RTD, DG REGIO and by a Member State (Czechia), which supports the implementation of the structural policy area "Access to Excellence" under the ERA Policy Agenda 2025-27. So far, 17 Member States, 5 Associated Countries and 11 stakeholder organisations have committed to engage in the network.
RIMA plays a key role in enhancing coordination between Cohesion Policy managing authorities and national R&I bodies, helping Member States align investments, foster synergies, and promote access to excellence throughout the European Research Area (ERA).
The agenda included updates from the Commission on policy developments, discussions on effective collaboration between Horizon Europe and Cohesion programmes, and exchanges of best practices from Member States. In addition to an exchange on the mandate, objectives and deliverables of the group, members discussed, among other points, on developments on synergies under WIDERA, such as results and lessons learnt from the recent "Pathways to Synergies" call. Practical examples and lessons learnt were presented by representatives from Lithuania ('upstream synergies') and Serbia ('downstream synergies'). Other topics of discussion were matters of mutual relevance, such as building capacity of ERDF Programme Authorities in Strategic Public Procurement as well as Innovation Procurement under Horizon Europe. Finally, based on short presentation of R&I in Cohesion Policy and under Horizon Europe as currently proposed for the post-2028 period, members engaged in exchanges of experience on preparations, process, and mutual involvement of the Cohesion and R&I authorities in this process.
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