The European Commission has launched the largest public consultation ever held on the past, present and future of EU R&I framework programmes running between 2014 and 2027. The consultation aims to gather the views of multiple stakeholders such as research institutions, businesses, consumer organisations, NGOs and public authorities on these programmes.

Past, present and future under the microscope

The inputs collected from the public consultation will be used to evaluate the performance of the Horizon 2020 programme, which ran from 2014 to 2020, and the ongoing Horizon Europe that ends in 2027. They will also be used to shape the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027.

European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel comments in an article posted on the Commission’s website: “I am glad to launch this public consultation: it is an unprecedented opportunity for all interested parties to make their voices heard. Its outcomes will help us evaluate Horizon’s results up until now and contribute shaping its future. I warmly invite all those with an interest in EU research and innovation to participate. We will make a difference together.”

The public consultation allows stakeholders to provide feedback on the completed Horizon 2020 programme’s achievements and shortcomings, its overall relevance, and the procedures associated with the application process and funding management. It also gives participants the opportunity to express their views on the design and implementation of Horizon Europe to date, so that stock can be taken of stakeholders’ current experiences with a view to possibly adapting current actions. Stakeholders are furthermore invited to identify future priorities for Horizon Europe’s upcoming strategic plan (2025-2027) by providing their views and opinions on emerging R&I needs, the R&I system’s strengths and weaknesses, and synergies across EU programmes.

Participants can choose to complete one or more sections of the online questionnaire. The questions are accessible in English, German and French, but participants can reply in all EU languages. Stakeholders are also invited to submit position papers.

The public consultation was launched on 1 December 2022 and will be running for 12 weeks. It closes on 23 February 2023. Questions regarding the consultation can be addressed to: RTD-PUBLIC-CONSULTATION-HORIZON@ec.europa.eu

Information and image source: