FP7 mid-term review says €50B programme is on course

As it reaches the half-way stage, the €50 billion Framework Programme 7 (FP7) is fulfilling its ambitions, but there is room for improvement and “strategic shifts” in the next three years, paving the way for even bigger changes in subsequent R&D programmes, according to the interim review released today (November 18).

Calling on the Commission to ensure the level of funding is maintained, the ten independent experts - who evaluated FP7 over six months - make ten recommendations for improvements between now and the end of the programme in 2013.

In particular, there must be a “quantum leap” in terms of simplifying the administration, with the experts asking the Commission to move to a more trust-based and risk-tolerant approach.

The review also asks for moves to advance the European Research Area by integrating the research base to overcome fragmentation in research, while at the same time getting a sharper division of labour between what is done at EU level and what is undertaken in national programmes.

The Commission should do more to encourage participation from women and from a broader spectrum of small and large companies, universities and research and technology organisations, through a well-articulated innovation strategy.

There is also a need to build connections between the FP and Structural Funds in order to pave the way for increased participation from Member States that are under-represented currently in FP7.

The work was carried out by an expert group chaired by Rolf Annerberg, Director General of the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Research and Spatial Planning. The Commission is now analysing the report and says it will respond in the weeks to come.

Commissioner for Research Máire Geoghegan-Quinn said the review indicates FP7 is making a major contribution to European science and the European Research Area. “We welcome the report from the expert group, which concludes that the Framework Programme is backing excellent projects and has a vast and impressive reach.”

The recommendations will be taken into account as the Commission draws up proposals for the rest of FP7 and it successor the Eighth Framework Programme, Geoghegan-Quinn said adding, “I am determined to make continuous improvements in our support for research and innovation.”

The ten recommendations in detail

The panel’s 10 recommendations are as follows:

1. Advance ERA and Innovation Union objectives. Fragmentation in research needs to be overcome, and it must be made clearer what is done at an EU level and what is done by national programmes. Addressing the ‘Grand Challenges’ should be at the heart of EU policy, starting immediately.
2. Develop and implement high quality research infrastructures. There needs to be coherence between what is funded by FP7 under the heading of Capacities, the ESFRI (European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures) and capacity building undertaken as part of Cohesion policy and what is being considered in the context of Joint Programming.
3. The level of funding should, at least, be maintained. Despite the economic crisis and budget restraints, there should be no funding cuts for the remainder of FP7. “There is a compelling case for continued substantial funding of research in the Eighth Framework Programme,” the review says, suggesting that “a reasonable level of funding per year could be that reached in the last year of FP7”. 
4. A well-articulated research and innovation strategy. A broad range of small and large enterprises, universities and research and technology organisations should be encouraged to participate. The need to support European enterprises’ efforts to integrate in global innovation networks must be taken into account. Financial support for research and innovation should be channelled to areas of crucial importance for European competitiveness.
5. Simplification needs a quantum leap. The panel calls for all the Commission’s directorates-general and agencies to rapidly implement the short-term simplification measures recently put forward and consider the upcoming changes to the Financial Regulations as “an opportunity to create more flexible conditions for research in subsequent FPs”.
6. Change the mix of funding measures. A different balance should be struck in FP7 and successor programmes between bottom-up and top-down approaches to research, with greater emphasis in the specific programme Cooperation during 2011-2013 on more open calls. Education must not be forgotten.
7. A moratorium on new instruments. This could ensure that existing instruments are sufficiently developed and adequately evaluated before new ones are introduced, thereby helping to avoid “a confusing proliferation of instruments”. 
8. Increase female participation in FP7. FP7 has helped increase women’s presence in scientific research, but the goal of 40 per cent participation is some way from being met. Initiatives are also needed at a member state level to help boost female participation in research.
9. Increased participation from under-represented member states. Member states that joined the EU in 2004 and 2007 have distinctly lower success rates than most older member states. More should be done to foster capacity building in these areas. 
10. Opening FP7 to international cooperation. The value of international cooperation and addressing global challenges is underlined in the report, which says that the international perspective must be integrated into all programmes and instruments. A review “based upon a thorough analysis of the current strategy towards international cooperation” is also needed, it says.