Parallel to the EHEA, in 2000 the European Union began to create a European Research Area (ERA), based on six pillars which aim to:

• Obtain a flow of competent researchers with a high degree of mobility between institutions, disciplines, sectors and countries.
• Integrate research infrastructures and make them readily accessible to research teams across Europe.
• Promote collaboration between research centres and other public and private centres to create innovation and research networks.
• Work toward an effective exchange of knowledge, particularly between the public sector and industries.
• Define common programmes under the European research framework, including coherent research and financial policies.
• International projection of a European research area.

All this with the aim for doctoral students to broaden their professional perspectives and obtain a more overall training.