The European Commission has published its ex-post evaluation of the 7th Framework Programme (FP7), the EU's research funding programme between 2007 and 2013. The assessment found that FP7 was largely effective in boosting excellent science and strengthening Europe's industrial competitiveness, contributing to growth and jobs in Europe.

The evaluation, which is based on a report by an independent group of high-level experts, also identified ways to improve how the funding of research and innovation is conducted in the EU, and many of these issues are already being taken up by Horizon 2020, the successor programme to FP7.

The evaluation found that FP7 had successfully addressed transnational societal challenges, including in the area of energy. The listed benefits to the European economy and society from FP7 included EUR 1.9 billion in funding provided to 374 energy projects conducting research into renewable energies such as wind, solar and biomass.

FP7 was also found to have contributed effectively to increasing the level of research investment. This was achieved notwithstanding the difficult economic situation in the latter part of FP7. Between 2007 and 2013, the share of EU-28 GDP dedicated to R&D increased, with FP7 compensating for the sharp decline in national public funding for research and innovation in certain Member States.

Many issues raised by the High-level Expert Group have already been addressed in Horizon 2020, but a number of specific points will be further addressed in the years to come. These include, inter alia, facilitating the elaboration of important projects of common European interest, which can foster the deployment of research into mature technologies. Other issues include using the Policy Support Facility and Cohesion Policy capacity building support to assist Member States in implementing effective reforms of their research and innovation systems.

For more information: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-146_en.htm