Why creating a European Research Area?   Europe has a long standing tradition of excellence in research and innovation, and European teams continue to lead progress in many fields of science and technology. However European centres of excellence are scattered across the continent and all too often their efforts fail to add up in the absence of adequate networking and cooperation. The 3 weaknesses of the research system in Europe: • insufficient funding, • lack of an environment to stimulate research and exploit results, • the fragmented nature of activities and the dispersal of resources. In the past, collaborative actions have been initiated at European and Community level, but now is the time to bring endeavours together and to build a research and innovation equivalent of the "common market" for goods and services. Therefore, The objective of the European Research Area initiative combines three related and complementary concepts: • the creation of an "internal market" in research, an area of free movement of knowledge, researchers and technology, with the aim of increasing cooperation, stimulating competition and achieving a better allocation of resources; • a restructuring of the European research fabric, in particular by improved coordination of national research activities and policies, which account for most of the research carried out and financed in Europe; • the development of a European research policy which not only addresses the funding of research activities, but also takes account of all relevant aspects of other EU and national policies.           What is the ERA?   This is a political concept proposed by the Commission and endorsed by the European Parliament and Council to overcome the present fragmentation of Europe's efforts in the area of research and innovation. The concept comprises organising co-operation at different levels, co-ordinating national or European policies, networking teams and increasing the mobility of individuals and ideas. It is an area where the scientific capacity and material resources of the Members States can be put to best use. An area that is open to the world where national and European policies can be implemented more coherently, and where people and knowledge can circulate more freely. The multiannual Framework Programmes are the financial instruments to implement the ERA.