Jörg Niehoff is the Deputy Head of Unit for “ERA, Spreading Excellence and Research Careers” in the Research and Innovation Directorate General of the European Commission. The Unit is responsible for the design and implementation of the ERA policy agenda, coordinates the ERA governance, develops a policy for research talents and careers, and is also responsible for promoting the Spreading of Excellence and preparing the Horizon Europe work programme on “Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area”. Since 2006 he has held various positions in DG RTD, firstly in the SME Unit and then in the Joint Programming Unit. He also worked as Policy Coordinator University Business cooperation at DG EAC. Jörg studied engineering and economics at the Technical University Aachen and worked as a researcher at Fraunhofer ILT, one of the world's leading centers for contract research in laser development and application.