The European Commission announced that it will start a pilot programme that will suppose that grants of up to €2.4 million will be awarded to universities or research institutions in less developed regions in Europe. According to the Commission, this initiative will support universities and other eligible organisations to achieve the level of research excellence needed to be competitive at international level.

A new pilot programme launched by the European Commission, the so-called ERA Chairs initiative, may help with grants of up to €2.4 million to universities or research institutions in less developed regions in Europe. The aim of this initiative is to attract outstanding academics to places that want to be on the international map for top research. In September 2011, the Commission published a Communication indicating that it seeks more synergies between the EU's regional policies and research and innovation programmes.

The universities or research institutions that want to take place on the new programme will have to demonstrate that they can provide the facilities and environment for excellent research in line with the European Research Area (ERA). Once selected, the institutions will award ERA Chairs to outstanding academics who have the capacity to raise standards and attract more high level staff as well as money from other sources, such as EU research funding or Regional funds.

The pilot stage for ERA Chairs will test the concept operating with €12 million drawn from the budget of the current seventh framework programme for research (2007-2013). If successful, the Commission proposes to fund a much larger number of ERA Chairs, depending on the size of the budget for the future framework programme Horizon 2020 (2014-2020).