The European Commission has published an independent expert study that provides an evidence‑informed baseline assessment of progress in reforming research assessment under the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment (ARRA). It examines the progress as implemented by the organisations that signed the ARRA, the vast majority of whom are members of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA).
Drawing on qualitative and quantitative evidence, the report examines how ARRA commitments are being interpreted, prioritised and translated into practice across organisational and national contexts. It shows that engagement with CoARA and ARRA is broad and growing, and that many research organisations across Europe are taking concrete steps to change how researchers and research projects are assessed, moving beyond a narrow focus on publications and metrics to better recognise a wider range of contributions, skills and career paths.
Progress remains uneven across countries and institutions, reflecting different contexts and starting points. Overall, the findings indicate that research assessment reform is moving from commitment to action, with continued coordination and support needed to achieve lasting change across the research system.
The study does not aim to assess success or failure. Rather, it captures a moment of transition in the reform process: from early commitment and agenda‑setting towards sustained implementation at scale. The findings therefore provide a foundation for policy learning, adjustment and coordination as reform efforts mature.
Importantly, these findings come halfway through the European Research Area (ERA) Policy Agenda 2025-2027 and help the Commission better understand the extent to which the reform of research assessment promoted through CoARA and ARRA has been implemented.
The findings are therefore highly relevant for shaping the next ERA Policy Agenda 2027-2029 as well as for the next Horizon Europe programme.
The European Commission has long supported the establishment of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA), a bottom-up initiative that brings together research organisations and funders to reform research assessment practices and participates in the coalition as an active member. In addition, the Commission has been providing financial support for institutional changes.
Reforming research assessment is essential to completing the ERA. Differences in evaluation criteria, methods, and tools across ERA countries can hinder the mobility of researchers, knowledge, and ideas. A shared commitment to common principles, adapted to national and organisational contexts, is therefore crucial.
The ERA Structural Policy on Research Assessment Reform promotes changes in how research, researchers, and institutions are evaluated, while respecting organisational autonomy. It encourages a shift towards qualitative assessment supported by responsible use of quantitative indicators, and recognises diverse research contributions, including outputs, practices, and activities. It also supports open science and aims to strengthen transparency, integrity, and inclusiveness in research evaluation.
In light of such policy priorities, the study on implementing research assessment reform comes as a crucial piece of evidence to navigate the complexity of the current implementation phase.