• Employers: all public or private bodies that employ researchers on the basis of a contract or that host them under other types of contracts or agreements, including those that do not provide for a direct financial relationship, but funding from third parties;
• Funders: all bodies that provide funding to public and private research institutions.

Details about the European Classification R1–R4

• The Council Recommendation formally establishes that all researchers, regardless of sector, may be classified into the following European profiles:
  
  • R1 — First Stage Researcher (Junior Researcher)
    
  • R2 — Recognised Researcher
    
  • R3 — Established Researcher
    
  • R4 — Leading Researcher
    
    Profiles R1–R2 correspond to early‑career researchers, whereas R3–R4 correspond to experienced researchers.

The new Charter adopts an inclusive definition of research careers, acknowledging and valuing linear, non‑linear, interdisciplinary, intersectoral, international and hybrid paths, all recognised as equally legitimate.

Employers and funders are encouraged to support and value such diverse career trajectories within recruitment, assessment and career‑progression systems, in line with the Charter’s principles on ethics, integrity, diversity, open science and sustainability.