1) This supporting study is an input feeding into the European Commission's interim evaluation of the 9th EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon Europe, running from 2021 to 2027. It aims to assess whether interventions and actions linked to Horizon Europe programme parts and partnerships assessed as part of this study are justified and whether Horizon Europe is working as expected towards achieving its objectives.
2) The methodology of the study for the Horizon Europe evaluation report included a comprehensive approach utilising 6 primary methods:
- desk research,
- an extensive interview programme (with 210 interviews involving relevant stakeholders, beneficiaries, and EC officials),
- 15 case studies,
- 4 benchmark studies,
- 2 large-scale surveys of beneficiaries and unsuccessful applicants.
- 5 additional quantitative methods: bibliometric analysis, network analysis, external synergies analysis, unstructured data analysis, and analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) data.
As for the quantitative data analysis, the data were extracted in June 2023. At that time, there were no closed projects for Cluster 1 and Cluster 3, and 1 closed project (2021) for Cluster 2. There were 484 signed projects and 78 projects under preparation, 95% of which were in 2022. The delayed launch of the Horizon Europe programme resulted in the first calls for proposals being launched in the second half of 2021, with the closing dates of mid-late autumn. The cut-off date is June 2023 data release; hence, the analysis represents monitoring data made available up to that date. As a result, the analysis in this report cannot provide evidence on the scientific, technological/economic and societal outputs of the analysed programme parts when it comes to the contribution of individual EU-funded projects launched under Horizon Europe.
3) This study serves as an evidence base for the interim evaluation of the Horizon Europe programme, which retrospectively assesses the performance of the first years to inform (work) programme design decisions. Its focus lies on the "Resilient Europe" aspects of the framework programme. This includes activities across three of the thematic clusters within Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe: Cluster 1 – Health, Cluster 2 – Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society, and Cluster 3 – Civil Security for Society. Moreover, the study encompasses an evaluation of European and co-funded partnerships: The Second Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI2), Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI), EIT Health, The Second European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership Programme (EDCTP2), Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking (GH EDCTP3 JU), European Partnership on Transforming Health and Care Systems (THCS), ERA4Health, and the Co-funded European Partnership "European Partnership on the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals" (PARC) and dedicated Case Study
on Mission on Cancer.
The findings of the study will be used to prepare the staff working document and to shape the next Framework Programme.