Research assessment plays a crucial role in research systems, but current practices prioritize quantitative metrics and publications without recognising the diversity of research outputs or open science practices. To address these issues, international initiatives have emerged, and the EU European Research Area Policy Agenda for 2022-2024 includes a specific action (Action 3) on Reform the Assessment System for research, researchers and institutions. In 2022, the EC, Science Europe, and the European University Association facilitated the development of the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment, which emphasises qualitative evaluation based on peer review and responsible use of quantitative indicators, and discourages the use of inappropriate metrics and rankings. 423 organisations signatories to agreement decided to constitute the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) to make progress on ten commitments within a five-year timeframe. As an enabler deeply rooted in the CoARA structure, the CoARA Boost project will strengthen the ramp-up of CoARA, enhancing the operational capacity and providing means to investigate and implement new models for research assessment. By amplifying its spectrum of actions and providing the additional capacity to implement a Cascade funding programme, CoARA Boost will allow to develop a critical mass for reforming research assessment, generate gravitas for new members and facilitate the leveraging of additional sources of funding. The overarching objective of the CoARA Boost Project is to contribute to enabling systemic reform of research assessment following the principles and commitments of the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment. CoARA Boost will i) strengthen CoARA’s operational capacity, ii) catalyse knowledge development, policy evolution and institutional change in research assessment, iii) facilitate collection and exchange of information and iv) widen the Coalition’s membership in Europe and beyond.

While significant effort has been and is being provided to address planetary protection in the context of inner Solar System exploration, and in particular Mars, PPOSS will allow tackling the scientific, technological and policy-making specifics of Planetary Protection (biological and organic contamination) of outer solar system bodies, including small solar system bodies. Through an intensive three year programme, the project will nurture and catalyse discussions, analysis, exchange of knowledge and definition of strategic science and policy recommendations, therefore allowing a leap in the understanding of biological and organic contamination in the frame of outer solar system bodies’ exploration. PPOSS intends to consider and delineate the state of the art, identify lessons to be learnt and good practices in planetary protection. Looking forward, PPOSS will identify scientific challenges and knowledge gaps as well as define scientific requirement for outer Solar system bodies planetary protection. PPOSS will also involve interactions with the European industry and will develop as set of European industry roadmaps. Eventually PPOSS will use and integrate the information and knowledge produced through the project to provide science and policy recommendations for the definition, improvement, and implementation of an adequate planetary protection policy for outer Solar system bodies. PPOSS will also be very active on dissemination and exchange of Planetary Protection-related knowledge and know-how. PPOSS will bring in four international partners from three non-European countries (Japan, China and Russia) as well as one observer from US. Participating in the project implementation (they will be part of the Steering Committee) and involving their experts, these organisations will enrich and extend the scope of the project, making it a true international initiative. PPOSS will last 3 years but COSPAR will be maintain and update its main outputs beyond its lifetime

SUPPORTER advances inclusive gender+ equality within the ERA. It supports institutions to develop intersectional, innovative, inclusive and impactful gender equality plans (4I-GEPs), tailored to sports higher education institutions, and explicitly addressing gender-based violence including sexual harassment (GBV). Building on state-of the-art knowledge and the expertise of advanced gender+ equality institutions, SUPPORTER co-creates an innovative capacity-building and mutual learning programme, delivering support and mentoring towards the development of the 4I-GEPs. Guided by inclusive and innovative epistemologies and co-creative methodologies SUPPORTER acts: -horizontally, by fostering institutional capacity and culture based on the principles of Diversity & Inclusion within an intersectional framework, ultimately enhancing the sports institutions’ reputation, attractiveness, inclusiveness and research excellence; -vertically, by triggering a transformative, institutional inclusive and sustainable change to sports institutions to address inequality-driven challenges and advance gender+ equality, focusing on GBV, thus also enhancing the institutions’ efforts towards meeting their gender+ equality objectives in the ERA context. To achieve these objectives SUPPORTER adopts a twinning-inspired approach, methodologically based on 3 interlinked processes (analytical, reflective, implementation), combining 4I learning and mutual learning schemes with co-creation and dissemination activities, engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, and building on knowledge and expertise from previous projects and tools. The multiplier effect of SUPPORTER, starting from the eight partner institutions and gradually reaching the sports ecosystem, has the long-term potential to trigger gender+ institutional change in a variety of further institutions, reaching society more broadly and contributing to wide-range systemic societal changes in line with the Ljubljana Declaration objectives.