CareerEnhance · A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE TO ENHANCE RESEARCH CAREERS AND INTER-SECTORAL MOBILITY

The CareerEnhance project aims to strengthen research careers in Europe by establishing a European Community of Practice (CoP) that supports the uptake of the European Framework for Research Careers (EFRC) and ResearchComp. This CSA addresses HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06- ERA-01 (AREA 3: Communities of Practice for research careers). The consortium is led by UiT the Arctic University of Norway, consists of 20 partners (50% new to ERA initiatives) from 13 countries, and is supported by a Reference Group represented by over 30 organisations. CareerEnhance will co-create innovative, open-access tools, training courses, and digital resources that enhance employability, inter-sectoral mobility, and recognition of researchers across Europe. Planned activities include: Mapping barriers and opportunities for career reform; Developing digital and training tools linked to EFRC and ResearchComp; Piloting career enhancing tools and three transferable skills courses (Research ethics including AI, Open Science, and Understanding business contexts) with early-career researchers in diverse contexts, including widening and remote regions; Establishing a sustainable Career CoP Hub integrated with the ERA Talent Platform; Delivering policy briefs and recommendations to support institutional and national reforms. CareerEnhance seeks to create measurable impacts, including the pan-European CoP with +300 members, new training opportunities for 160 early-career researchers, and validated resources for adoption by higher education institutions, employers, and policymakers. The project outcomes will contribute to resilient and stable community for cooperation and knowledge exchange across organisations and actors; modernised career policies and improved talent management in HEIs; more skilled employees in remote areas, making regions more attractive; more targeted job announcements and diversified career opportunities for ECRs, leading to higher employer and employee satisfaction; enhanced