European Research and Innovation Days 2020: Tägliche Kurzberichte "Smart Implementation & Synergies (Hub 6)"

Hub 6: Smart Implementation & Synergies

22.9.2020

Synergies between EU and other funding programmes – at both strategic and implementation level – strengthen the science base, support the deployment of research results and increase impact. The hub is looking at all facets of programme implementation strategy and synergies and discuss how they can ensure research and innovation delivers for society.

Simplification in implementation of the NEW MULTIANNUAL FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK: The role of Horizon Europe

Simplification matters to deliver policy impacts and should be the main guiding principle. EU programs have to be implemented in a simple and efficient way, also to reduce administrative burden for applicants. The EC has designed a new strategy and wants to harmonize with other programs and develop synergies. The new strategy comprises:

• Maximising impact
• Greater transparency, further simplification
• Fostering synergies
• Easing access to digital transformation

The EC suggests a three step approach in order to achieve simplification, also for daily lives of researchers:

• Simpler financing rules (lump sums, flat rates…)
• More coherence between programs, reduce administrative burden
• Corporate model agreement

Main parts of the discussion were experiences so far and what will continue or become simpler in Horizon Europe, as well as specific questions of the audience:

• so far nobody wants to combine funding programs for fear of complexity
• will there be a continuation or an increase in 2-stage proposal submissions?
• lump sum funding of projects
• possibility to use Seal of Excellence with structural funds
• Joint Calls between different programs: clear guidance and concrete Best practice examples are needed
• The EC needs a marketing strategy to motivate people to use combination of EU funding programs 
• Digitization is one main issue, also for example when it comes to the outcome of research, also to attract citizens.

Closing – one sentence on simplification: Funding based on results, let’s bring rules closer to results!

European Institute of Innovation & Technology and European Research Council: Walking the Talk

The focus of the session was to showcase the synergy effects between EIT and EIC, demonstrated by two successful start-ups:

• BioTA Tec (metals extracted in a green way, Bio-treatment technologies from low grade waste and oars)
• ADVITOS GmbH (medical device that support four organs)

Differences, complementaries and synergies were discussed in greater detail during the panel session together with Gioia Ghezzi (Chairperson ot the governing board EIT), Marja Makarov (Professor Director Biocenter Finland) and the founders.

Discussion on future plans of the entrepreneurs and how EIT and EIC can help: Expansion into European market, market entry in US, AI based user systems, excaling the lab, approaching early adopters and becoming member of the Baltic hub were mentioned.

The need for early adopters was emphasized showcasing the potential of the EIT networks. In addition fast tracks from EIC to EIT and vice versa were discussed.

Quality, transparency and fairness in Horizon Europe proposal evaluation

• Three main criteria for evaluation will stay like they have been in Horizon 2020
• TEST: Anonymous evaluation in 1st stage of 2 stage proposals (incl. eligibility criteria to not disclose affiliation in 1st stage [only])
• TEST: Right to react during the evaluation stage
• PORTFOLIO Approach on funding: fund a number of proposal that together have a common impact (1st step proposal evaluation, 2nd step portfolio building)

23.9.2020

The Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement – The catalyst for simplification & synergies with other programmes

This session addressed among others the challenge of bringing together different programmes under a single set of rules that is compatible for all programmes and the need for clear, simple rules and legal certainty regarding performance.

There still is a certain level of scepticism and reserve whether and how the envisaged novelties and synergies will work in practice.

The European Commission emphasises on continuing the exchange process with the stakeholders and on offering information workshops addressing the novelties compared to Horizon 2020 and how to implement them correctly. During the first half of October 2020, the European Commission will launch a workshop for all stakeholders in order to present all novelties related to the new Model Grant Agreement. 

Simplification is reinforced by the alignment of eligibility rules and the corporate approach. The corporate Model Grant Agreement for Horizon Europe will be horizontally applicable, but equally adaptable to each sector of the economy by displaying specificities its Annex 5.

SYNERGIES: New opportunities to leverage R&I funding and maximize impact

The European Commission described the successful process of different experts working hard on facilitating synergies between different funding programmes such as Horizon Europe and the European Structural and Investment Funds. This process had to start at the political level, however without putting to questions state aid policy and the objectives of each programme.

There are high-impact outcomes of this collaboration that will benefit various types of projects, in particularly teaming actions, MSCA-COFUND projects and reserve list projects from ERC, MSCA and the EIC. As an example, it will be easier to provide funding for Seal of Excellence (SoE) projects through a block exemption from the state aid rules. 

The European Commission is also organizing outreach events for regional authorities managing the Structural Funds in order to inform them about the implications. 
Asked where the practitioners see most potential for synergies, they mentioned the SoE, enhancement of Horizon Europe financing (e.g. MSCA-COFUND) and the Partnerships. Their advice to policy makers for successfully implementing synergies is to continue the teaming actions, to have more cooperation and communication between different players and to break up the silos as well as long-term strategic planning (while still being as flexible as possible).

24.9.2020

Lump sum projects – A solution for simplification – Experience from H2020 pilots

The overall topic of this session has been to elaborate on the experiences so far from the lump sum pilot in Horizon 2020 and whether the lump sum approach is a solution for simplification. In lump sum projects, the European Commission puts stronger focus on the implementation of concrete deliverables and the overall project work, rather than on the reporting of costs
Practitioners shared their experiences under the lump sum funding pilot in Horizon 2020, which has been widely positive, despite the need for more careful planning of the project and partner selection. There is a significant reduction of administrative burden as there is no need for cost reporting. It is further addressed that especially small companies and start ups might face difficulties when trying to get access to a lump sum project consortium.
As there is a need for more guidance, the European Commission plans workshops and trainings for stakeholders to learn about the functioning and specificities of lump sum projects. Nevertheless it is not sure and has not been decided yet whether the lump sum approach will be extended under Horizon Europe.
Link to a presentation from the European Commission (“Lump Sum pilots: What do I have to know?”)

Pathways from RESEARCH TO THE MARKET

The principal aim of the session was to share experiences and ideas on how to improve synergies and how to bring research results to the market.

Practical experience from a regional perspective tells that a majority of people in Interreg (“Europäische territoriale Zusammenarbeit”) does not work in Horizon, so it is considered important for raising awareness to provide support to link people/communities and inform regional experts about research results from other funding programmes (e.g. Horizon 2020).

More examples for the use of synergies can be found e.g. within the Connecting Europe facility (CEF) programme, the Innovation Fund as well as the INEA (Innovation and Networks Executive Agency).

A key criterion for bringing project results to the market is competition. There is a need for strong technical assistance for researchers as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Further, projects need to have more interaction with the market, e.g. by involving the market at an earlier stage of work. The ecosystem (often a transnational ecosystem) around researchers is an important factor for bringing results to the market. 

CRISIS UPON CRISIS: The cumulative effect of crisis on European resilience

The most devastating societal impacts are often those, which arise from the cumulative effect of unresolved, unaddressed and critical issue instead from a single moment or issue.
In Horizon 2020 funded projects, e.g. citizens who are active in local solidary communities are more likely also engaged in European supranational solidarity. Nurturing solidarity on a local level would result in nurturing also European solidarity.

Crisis do not necessarily threaten trust in governance, but it is rather bad governmental performance (e.g. mismanagement and corruption) that leads to a lower level of trust. Therefore trust in governance is highly dependent on trust in experts and the mass media. Uncritical trust is not the goal.

The first victims of every crisis are the poorest part of the population as they are affected on many levels (e.g. unemployment, debts, health problems). Harsh austerity policies have triggered lasting or even irreversible damages, which can be considered as disinvestment in people. Resilience would need social investment in people (i.e. in their basic social rights and capabilities at large).

When European communities were created, efficiency was the priority over citizen participation. Despite very important reforms in the past, the European Union remains ill-equipped to respond to demands of greater legitimacy and to concerns of citizens.

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