Our Story
ARCOE – Advancing Research Careers through Organisational Excellence – is a Horizon Europe project dedicated to strengthening the foundations of the European research ecosystem by building a new generation of talent support structures.
We believe that researchers deserve more than just opportunities—they deserve an environment that actively invests in their growth, mobility, and well-being.
Through a Virtual Talent Innovation Ecosystem Hub, ARCOE connects research-performing organisations, HR professionals, and innovation stakeholders across Europe. Together, we improve career development frameworks, promote responsible recruitment, and build bridges between academia and the private sector.
We empower researchers to thrive, institutions to transform, and ecosystems to grow.
20+ cross sector
collaboration activities
500+ researchers
engaged
15 participating
institutions
10+ training
modules
Our Objectives
ARCOE is implemented under the Horizon Europe WIDERA programme, and focuses on enhancing the research capacity and attractiveness of the Widening countries. Through knowledge-sharing, institutional transformation, and synergies with other EU initiatives, we aim to create a European Research Area that is open, inclusive, and globally competitive.
We believe that research careers must be as innovative as the science they support, and ARCOE is here to make that vision a reality.
Career Development & Training Programmes
Target: At least 10 training modules
These programmes will focus on digital transformation, deep tech, and the Green Deal, empowering researchers with future-ready skills and career pathways.
Researcher Engagement in the Virtual Hub
Target: Minimum 500 researchers engaged
The ARCOE Hub will provide tailored services for professional development, including networking, training, and mobility tools, engaging at least 500 researchers across Europe.
Organisations supported in HRS4R
Target: 15 organisations
ARCOE will assist 15 participating institutions in aligning with the European Charter & Code and applying for the HR Excellence in Research Award (HRS4R), promoting transparent, merit-based, and inclusive recruitment.
Cross-sectoral Meet&Match Events
Target: At least 20 cross-sector collaboration activities
ARCOE will organise matchmaking and networking events to foster alliances between academia and non-academic sectors, enhancing researcher mobility and institutional cooperation.
Our Consortium
The ARCOE consortium brings together 13 partners from 9 European countries, including both Widening countries, with moderate or emerging research and innovation performance, and more established innovation ecosystems. This diverse composition ensures that the project benefits from complementary institutional profiles and geographic balance, reflecting the wider challenges and opportunities across the European Research Area.
The consortium includes universities, research-performing organisations, HR experts, and innovation actors, all selected for their proven expertise in institutional transformation, career development, and researcher mobility. Together, the partners are fully equipped to deliver all planned activities, from gap analyses and training design to HRS4R support and cross-sector networking.
The ARCOE team is also proud of its commitment to gender equality and inclusion, with balanced representation across all working groups and leadership roles, ensuring a broad range of perspectives in shaping the future of research careers in Europe.
A Hub for Talent and Transformation
The ARCOE Virtual Hub is more than a digital platform.
It is a living, evolving ecosystem. It brings together researchers, institutions, and innovators to share resources, develop skills, and unlock new career paths.
The ARCOE Virtual Hub is a centralised digital environment that brings together resources, services, and stakeholders. It is designed to be intuitive, inclusive, and scalable, ensuring long-term accessibility for all organisations and researchers, including those in Widening countries.
This hub will offer:
Personalised training paths
Career development services
Digital networking opportunities
Guidance on ethical recruitment practices
Long-term support to ensure sustainability beyond the project’s lifetime.
The ARCOE Virtual Hub is designed with sustainability in mind. A long-term business plan is being developed to ensure that the Hub continues to serve the European research community even after the project’s end.
By joining the ARCOE Hub, you’re not just accessing tools, you’re entering a vibrant community of practice that supports excellence in research careers. The Hub facilitates dialogue, collaboration, and mutual learning across borders and sectors.