The purpose of this study is to evaluate the support to innovation of the EU Research & Innovation Framework programme which feeds into the ex-post evaluation of Horizon 2020, due end 2023, and into the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe, due end 2024. The main objective is to evaluate how Horizon 2020/Europe multiannual programmes supported companies in their journey from inventors to innovators.
The study team applies a dedicated methodology, including a set of case studies and benchmarking exercises, to assess the implementation of the EU Research & Innovation Framework programme in two phases and will provide input for these two evaluations. This back-to back approach, covering under a single study data collection and analysis to inform these two evaluations, should allow for an alignment in evaluation methodologies (including indicators) and for better accounting of longer-term effects of the Framework Programmes. The study shall identify what worked well and less well, lessons to be learned and suggestions for improvement for the short and longer-term of the Framework Programme. The traditional methods are enriched with additional methods such as microeconometric and macroeconometric modelling, patent analysis, Natural language processing and R&I topic modelling, company data analysis, SDG data mapping.