Evaluation study of the European Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation for an Innovative Europe

IDEA Consult together with lead partner PPMI and Prognos, is currently carrying out an evaluation study on the support to innovation of the EU Research & Innovation (R&I) Framework programme to feed into the ex-post evaluation of Horizon 2020 and into the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe. The study will be implemented in two phases:

  • Phase 1: supporting the ex-post evaluation of Horizon 2020;
  • Phase 2: supporting the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe.

Horizon 2020 was the 8th EU Framework Programme for research and innovation for the period 2014-2020 with a budget of nearly EUR 80 billion. Horizon 2020 represented a quite substantial change as compared to the prior 7th Framework Programme (FP7) (2007-2014) in many ways e.g. a wider coverage of TRLs, more focus on industrial leadership, a stronger attention to societal challenges, multidisciplinary research and the input from civil society.  Horizon Europe, the 9th Framework Programme for the period 2021 – 2027, is highly coherent and in large continuity with

Horizon 2020, although some novelties can be discerned.

The study will design and apply a dedicated methodology consisting of quantitative (e.g., macro and micro-economic modelling, network analysis, topic modelling, SDG classification) and qualitative methods (including a set of case studies and benchmarking exercises), to assess the implementation of the EU Research & Innovation Framework programme in two phases and will provide input for these two evaluations. During phase 1, following programs will be evaluated: EIC pilot, EIT, Innovation in SME, Eurostars 2, Access to Risk Finance, and cross-cutting innovation actions across the whole H2020 programme. During phase 2, EIC, European Innovation Ecosystems, EIT, and Eurostars 3 will be evaluated.

 The study shall identify what worked well and less well, lessons to be learned and suggestions for improvement for the short and longer-term of the Framework Programme.