The European Commission has launched a public consultation to find out how the European research environment can be improved. The European Commission wants the scientific community and other interested groups and individuals to contribute to this consultation in order to redefine the research landscape in Europe. This will enable researchers, research institutions and businesses to circulate, compete, and co-operate across borders, increasing growth potential.

The public consultation launched by the European Commission has as main aim to find out how the European research environment can be radically improved. The general objective is to achieve the European Research Area (ERA) by 2014, by creating a genuine single market for knowledge, research and innovation. For that reason the European Commission has asked the scientific community and other interested groups and individuals redefine the research landscape in Europe to contribute to this survey. The consultation runs until 30 November 2011.

The Commission will draw on input received to finalise its proposal for an enhanced ERA Framework, to be published before the end of 2012, which is the continuation of the Common Strategical Framework for research and innovation adopted in February. The Framework will optimise the coordination of research funding across Member State borders, improving the efficiency and the impact of European research. European Commissioner for Research and Innovation Máire Geoghegan-Quinn stated that the research community has now the chance to tell what they need, so they can work together with the Commission to tear down barriers to growth and jobs.

The European Commission has identified the ERA as a prerequisite for a new era of innovation and competitiveness in Europe, with the best researchers working together so the European Union can really become an "Innovation Union". The European Council already backed in February this initiative highlighting the role of innovation and intellectual capital for removing remaining obstacles to attracting talent and investment, and achieve a unified European Research Area by 2014.