π Tender Overview
Grant agreement ID: 101311141
DOI
10.3030/101311141
EC signature date
9 July 2026
Start date
1 January 2027
End date
31 December 2031
Objective
REACtOE is an EEI institutional transformation action in the agri-food bioeconomy. It aims to upgrade research-performing organisations in Widening countries with measurable reforms, skills and digitalisation, positioning them as competitive, open and interoperable actors within the ERA.
The project is structured around five mutually reinforcing pillars: Institutional Reform, Skills Development, Applied Agri-food Pilots, Digital Transformation, and Ecosystem & Citizen Engagement. These pillars tackle systemic gaps in governance, research assessment, data and RDM practices, human resources, and innovation management. A shared theory of change, continuous Plan-Do-Check-Act cycles and collaboration with quadruple-helix stakeholders provide the backbone for evidence-based, verifiable institutional change.
Six TRL 3-5 pilots (alternative proteins & waste-to-value, food safety/health, industrial & circular biotech) demonstrate how CoARA-aligned assessment, upskilling, and FAIR/AI-enabled digital tools enhance excellence, sustainability and impact. Each pilot generates open Replication Packages (SOPs, DOIs, implementation guides), modernises research management, and feeds a federated Digital Hub and FAIR-by-design data infrastructure. By M54: 5 CoARA frameworks; 8 RMA upgrades (Λ-25% admin burden); =250 trained staff (=50% women), =50 exchanges; 20 SME placements ? =10 collaborations; =90% datasets open (M48); 3 HRS4R submissions; 5 scalable innovations ? 3 EU follow-ups; Alliance roadmap + 7 regional plans.
The consortium unites 6 partners across 9 countries: 6 Widening HEIs, 3 mentor universities, and 7 non-academic actors (technopark, SMEs, NGO). REACtOE directly supports the EEI Work Programme and the ERA Policy Agenda 2025-2027 by advancing research-assessment reform (CoARA/HRS4R), open science & FAIR data, gender equality, digital/AI capacity and knowledge valorisation, strengthening excellence and openness in Europeβs agri-food research ecosystem.
