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“ERA-NET”ERA-NET”
First lessons learned from First lessons learned from an overview of joint callsan overview of joint calls
under FP6 ERA-NET projectsunder FP6 ERA-NET projects
Feedback from the ERA-NET workshop on « Joint Calls »,
14 June 2006
Markku WarrasActing Head of Unit
Directorate General for Research European Commission
Den Haag, 20 June 2006European Commission
Research DG
Support for the coordination of activities20.06.2006 EuroHORCsMarkku Warras, HoU f.f., DG RTD-B2
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“ERA-NET”ERA-NET”
Level of AmbitionLevel of AmbitionSelected CA projects, to 10/05Selected CA projects, to 10/05
33
11
44
22• Information exchange & best practices
• Common strategic issues
• Joint activities
• Joint/common calls (fixed for 2005/2006 to 10/05)
20.06.2006 EuroHORCsMarkku Warras, HoU f.f., DG RTD-B2
Support for the coordination of activities
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“ERA-NET”ERA-NET”
Analysis based on preliminary data and very different type of calls
15 calls have been launched to date, ~20 under preparation or planned in workprogrammes ~50% of ERA-NETs
Very different type of calls :– Regular call for yearly awards– Major Calls for transnational research projects, both for fundamental
and industrial research in various areas (Biotechnology stands out)– Smaller pilot calls testing joint call mechanisms
Almost 200 Million Euro foreseen, 80% in 3 projects
150 Organisations involved (15% of total), Most countries involved in FP6 are participating Building experience
ERA-NETs start making an impactERA-NETs start making an impact(Overview to June 2006)(Overview to June 2006)
20.06.2006 EuroHORCsMarkku Warras, HoU f.f., DG RTD-B2 Support for the coordination of activities
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“ERA-NET”ERA-NET”
Management integration : The devil is in the detail– Allows to gather in depth knowledge of different national systems– Design issues : Objective, Target group, Type of project, Type of
partnership, Focus on theme or not, Evaluation criteria– Implementation issues : Timing, Information, Evaluation (2-Steps),
Contracting, Monitoring, Overall management (Decision making)
Main lessons learned :– Smaller calls are easier : commitments can be decided easier, appear as
less threatening. – Pilot calls allow to explore and pave the way before focusing on larger ones
with added value for policy makers and impact for target group.– Agreeing on design and implementation is easier– Main difficulties are economic evaluation criteria (industrial projects),
different practices for feed-back to proposers (when and what to feed-back?) and different structure and level of overheads
Joint calls - Main issues -1Joint calls - Main issues -1
20.06.2006 EuroHORCsMarkku Warras, HoU f.f., DG RTD-B2
Support for the coordination of activities
5
“ERA-NET”ERA-NET”
Financial integration : Various mechanisms are tested– Most used is the VIRTUAL common pot– Some have used a REAL common pot– Mixed models have been developed
Main lessons learned :– The virtual common pot is easier : no need for exchange of funds amongst
countries.– Various enablers allow to solve main problem of virtual pot Flexibility (Country A increases its commitment) Cross-funding (Country A funds partner from Country B) Joint Top Evaluation Panel takes into account funding levels for final list
– However, only a “real common pot” allows to guarantee funding to all
selected trans-national projects.
Joint calls - Main issues - 2Joint calls - Main issues - 2
20.06.2006 EuroHORCsMarkku Warras, HoU f.f., DG RTD-B2 Support for the coordination of activities
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“ERA-NET”ERA-NET”
Scientific integration : How to select topics – Most joint calls are bottom-up, with a 2 step mechanism– Some calls have carefully identified scientific priorities– Some partners are also discussing synergies and complementarities with
EU RTD programme (FP7)
Main lessons learned :– Focus on some scientific topics is easier for projects involving policy
makers (programme owners). More difficult when mostly programme managers are involved.
– Virtual common pot is more appropriate for topics where much research is ongoing in many partner countries.
– Real common pot poses less problems when addressing a very relevant but new or less investigated topic.
– ERA-NET joint calls allow some Member States to have transnational research on topics which were not selected as a priority by the 33 countries involved in the Framework Programme.
Joint calls - Main issues - 3Joint calls - Main issues - 3
20.06.2006 EuroHORCsMarkku Warras, HoU f.f., DG RTD-B2 Support for the coordination of activities