Council approves conclusions on the evaluation of Horizon 2020

The Council has approved conclusions on 'the ex-post evaluation of Horizon 2020 and future outlook'.

 Horizon 2020 was the EU's 8th funding framework programme for research and innovation and was in place between 2014 and 2020 with an overall budget of €75.6 billion. The conclusions are member states’ reaction to the ex-post assessment report that the Commission issued earlier this year. They are intended to provide political guidance in view of the preparation of the future framework programme (FP10).

The conclusions confirm the central role of the framework programme in supporting research and innovation at EU level, driven by the pursuit of excellence, and highlight its scientific, societal and economic impact. It addresses synergies with other European programmes and with national and regional funds and calls to improve feedback to policymaking and to better align the framework programme with the European Research Area. The conclusions also note considerable disparities in participation and success rates between countries and invites exploring a more effective approach that supports a wider participation. Finally, the conclusions address implementation issues of the framework programme, and the need to further optimise monitoring, including assessing its long-term effects. As such, these conclusions are a crucial step in the development of the next framework programme for research and innovation.

Although Horizon 2020 is a success story, we cannot be complacent. Research and innovation will be critical for our competitiveness and sovereignty in the years to come. We need to make the most of the lessons learnt in Horizon 2020 to ensure that the next framework programme for research and development is even more ambitious, efficient and successful.

Willy Borsus, Vice-President of Wallonia, Minister for Economy, Research and Innovation, Digital, Agriculture, Urban Planning and Spatial Planning

Background

The conclusions approved today are the Council's response to the ex-post evaluation of Horizon 2020, issued by the Commission on 29 January 2024. The programme funded almost 35 000 projects involving 40 000 organisations. The evaluation concludes that Horizon 2020 has been a successful programme in many different areas (having a notably high scientific, social and economic impact), although it signals some areas for improvement, such as broadening participation, further reducing the administrative burden and better disseminating research results. 

The draft conclusions will help to prepare for the following 10th framework programme for research and innovation 2028-2034.