This ex-post evaluation sheds light on the Horizon 2020 impacts, achievements, and identifies areas for improvement in future EU R&I policies and programmes.
On 29 January 2024, the European Commission unveiled the anticipated report on the ex-post evaluation of Horizon 2020, the EU’s research and innovation funding programme spanning from 2014 to 2020 with a budget of nearly €80 billion. Horizon 2020 emerged as a major contributor to the development of an EU society and economy rooted in knowledge and innovation in areas ranging from the medical sciences and chemical engineering to quantum mechanics and composite materials. Over seven years, the programme funded a wide array of more than 35’000 projects, drawing applications from 177 countries yet fell short by €159 billion of being able to finance all proposals that were deemed as being “above the quality threshold”, representing a total of 100’000 (74%) proposals. Also noteworthy is that 64.4% of its budget was dedicated to sustainable development, solidifying its position as the world’s second-largest provider of climate science after FP7.
The report shows that Horizon 2020 had a significant impact on Europe’s research capacity by supporting the mobility of nearly 50’000 academics and fostering collaboration, bringing together researchers, innovators, and stakeholders while simultaneously encouraging knowledge exchange, cross-pollination of ideas, and the pooling of resources across borders. The programme catalysed innovation, resulting in almost 4’000 patents and trademarks while private sector investment, equating to 57 cents for each euro invested by the EU, highlighted the programme’s economic multiplier effect. In public-private partnerships, this leverage was even more pronounced, amounting to three euros invested by companies for every euro contributed by the EU.
The European Commission also acknowledges challenges, including complex coordination, resource limitations, and the need for better alignment of timelines and priorities in regard to future R&I policy. As Horizon 2020’s evaluation lays the foundation for Horizon Europe and beyond, addressing these challenges is imperative. The findings will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the future of EU research and innovation initiatives, enhancing competitiveness, and the EU’s goal of Open Strategic Autonomy (see SwissCore article). To this end, the EC stated that it will be crucial to focus on broader participation, further simplification and reduction of the administrative burden, reinforcement of the dissemination, exploitation, and deployment of results, support for the participation of women, and enhancement of synergies with other initiatives at EU, national, and regional levels. The pressing need to address the gender imbalance within the research and innovation landscape, as highlighted by Horizon 2020’s evaluation, is clear. The participation of women in projects was limited to only 23% and despite reaching 42% representation on proposal evaluation panels (just above the 40% target), the participation of women in scientific advisory panels fell short of the 50% target.
These challenges are further compounded by the recent discussion to divert €2.1 billion from Horizon Europe’s budget of €95.5 billion to defence research, limiting its potential impact. This budget cut underscores the shifting priorities in response to geopolitical tensions and the need to bolster Europe’s defence capabilities, particularly in light of the conflict in Ukraine. While the aim of increasing EU’s technological capabilities through initiatives like the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) is significant, it does raise concerns about the potential impact on research and innovation funding. The platform aims to strengthen, leverage, and direct both existing and new EU funds towards investments in deep and digital, clean and bio technologies identified as “critical” within the EU. As the Commission seeks to strike a balance between security imperatives and the advancement of research and innovation, it must also adapt its approach going-forward based on the lessons learned from Horizon 2020. Implications of this evaluation for future R&I programmes, including FP10 scheduled to commence in 2028, are eagerly anticipated.