The results of the co-design activities on Horizon Europe’s implementation strategy point towards continuity and call for further simplifications.
Following the political agreement on large parts of Horizon Europe in spring 2019, the European Commission (EC) has launched two major co-design processes to prepare for the launch of the programme in 2021. The first so-called Strategic Planning process encompasses the definition of targeted impacts and funding priorities and will result in a Strategic Plan guiding the drafting of work programmes and subsequent calls. The second co-design process relates to Horizon Europe’s implementation strategy and defines how the 9th Framework Programme will be managed in practice.
Starting point and basis for the second co-design process, the consultation on the implementation strategy were the draft Orientations towards the Horizon implementation strategy published in July 2019. In the following, two major activities took place: First, 1’549 replies were collected during an open web consultation between 31 July and 4 October 2019. In response to this consultation, Swiss stakeholders submitted a total of 27 responses and Switzerland was thus the most engaged among all Horizon 2020 associated countries. Second, a stakeholder community of almost 4’000 participants engaged with the EC at the European Research and Innovation days that took place from 24 to 26 September 2019. The combined results of both consultation activities were published on 26 November in a report presenting an overview of comments and ideas on different implementation areas.
In sum, the collected feedbacks demonstrate a broad agreement on the draft Orientations towards the Horizon Europe implementation strategy. Respondents appreciate the EC’s continuity approach to Horizon Europe’s implementation. There is a general acknowledgement of simplifications initiated under Horizon 2020, such as faster granting processes and the introduction of lump sum payments in order to simplify administration and auditing. However, respondents call for further simplifications and clearer guidance under Horizon Europe, especially in relation with personnel costs and accounting practices. Answers indicate scope for further improvements throughout the whole project cycle, such as the need for simpler templates for proposal submission and for technical and financial reporting. Respondents further emphasise the importance of appropriate communication and feedback and the need for a transparent and trust-based system, especially in relation with the evaluation procedures and the experts involved in it. Last, the responses to the consultation indicate a strong interest in how the novelties of Horizon Europe, especially the European Innovation Council (EIC) and missions, will be implemented in practice.
The collected feedback of the implementation strategy co-design process will be taken into account during the on-going preparation of the Horizon Europe implementation strategy.