1. The experts involved in the preparation of the opinio Interim Evaluation of Horizon 2020 and preparation of the next Framework Programme ERAC opinion paper n
Rapporteur
Denis Despréaux (FR)
Myriam Cevallos (CH)
Erik Hansalek (DE)
Eduardo Maldonado (PT)
Christian Naczinsky (AT)
Katrine Nissen (DK)
Taivo Raud (EE)
With the contribution of ERAC delegates + ERAC related groups
=> Good balance of the point of views : Member States and Associates Members ; Northern Europe and Southern Europe ; Western Europe and Eastern Europe

2. The main milestones to the adoption of the opinion1
February 7th 2017 : kick off meeting Paris 2
March 15th-17th ERAC meeting Malta (discussion with the ERA related groups and the ERAC plenary ) 3
March 30th-31th 2017 : Research Policy Group (discussion on FP9) 4
May th-11th: participative workshop with important stakeholders and ERAC delegates (Brussels) 5
June 2017 : adoption of the draft opinion

3. The ambition of the opinion paper
Taking stock of H2020 main successes : disclosing significant shared preferences among MS/AC +
Indicating a set of directions to reinforce FPs impacts: suggestions of issues to be discussed to boost H2020 and prefigurate the next FP

4. A wide agreement on H2020 key features
The support of the whole R&I chain with the 3 pillars approach is effective and strenghtened by a right timeframe (2 years WP) and by simplification efforts (single funding rate + participant portal)
The emulation/cooperation among transnational and intersectorial teams is well incentived by sound criteria (excellence/impact) and by appropriate funding schemes
H2020 is contributing to the achievement of ERA
H2020 delivers widely supported initiatives : ERC, MSCA, Infrastructures, collaborative research (SC, FET, KET)

5. 6 main proposals to bolster FPs
Enhancing the contribution of FPs to ERA achievement (designing a sound multi level governance)
Including more excellent participants from all MS/AC, in particular through further simplifications and synergy of fundings
International cooperation should be relaunched
Innovation : supporting the EU R&I ecosystems
Promoting linkages between FPs and the other EU sectoral policies
Communication on FPs successes, with a continued dialogue with European societies