1. The ERA.Net instrument Aims and benefits
FP7 ERA-Net RUS Workshop
Moscow, Higher School of Economics, 27 January 2010
The ERA.Net instrument
Aims and benefits
Yves Maisonny
European Commission - Research DG
International Cooperation

2. European Research Area
3 concepts
the creation of an "internal market" in research (free movement of knowledge, researchers and technology)
the restructuring of the European research fabric (improved coordination of national research activities and policies)
the development of a European research policy (taking into account other EU and national policies)

3. Restructuring a fragmented ERA
EU27 + EC

4. Why ERA-NET ?
To reduce fragmentation of research efforts made at national level in Europe
Reasons for coordination:
Achieving critical mass, to ensure better use of resources
Join forces to provide common answers to common problems
Addressing global issues
Developing common approaches (e.g. ethics, standards)
Addressing specific geographical issues
Speaking with “one voice” outside the EU
In many cases several reasons apply but for all:
Avoiding overlap and build up of expertise
Exchange of good practices
Access to expertise

5. Co-ordination & Integration of public research in the ERA
Policy level
open method of coordination
mapping, benchmarking, etc.
Legislation (e.g. 3rd country researchers)
Maximum Leverage
Programme level
ERA-NET
ERA-NET Plus (EC topping up a joint call)
Article 169 initiatives (full integration)
Medium Leverage
Project level
FP7 funding schemes
Lower Leverage

6. ERA-NET Objective
To develop and strengthen the coordination of public research programmes carried out at national or at regional level.
“Programmes” should be understood as entire research programmes, or parts of such programmes, or similar initiatives having the following characteristics:
be strategically planned
be carried out at national or regional level
be financed or managed directly by national or regional public bodies, or by structures closely related (e.g. agencies)

7. ERA-NET Participants All participants should be either:
programme owners, such as national ministries or regional authorities managing a research programme
programme managers (e.g. research councils, agencies) which implement research programmes under programme owners’ supervision
in justified cases: programme owners without a research programme but planning to set up one
Participants from at least 3 different Member States or Associated States

8. A step by step approach is proposed:
ERA-NET Activities
A step by step approach is proposed:
ERA-NET may include the following activities to foster
coordination and cooperation between programmes:
1 – Systematic exchange of information & best practice
2 – Definition and preparation of joint activities
3 – Implementation of joint activities
4 – Funding of transnational research

9. ERA-NET achievements: from FP6 to FP7
FP6: 71 ERA-NETs, more than 40 still running, 450 participating organisations committing about €1.1 billion in 115 joint calls (€773 million) and 15 joint programmes (€376 million)
FP7:
WP 2007: 19 ERA-NET, 4 ERA-NET Plus
WP 2008: 12 ERA-NET, 4 ERA-NET Plus
WP 2009: 8 ERA-NET, 1 ERA-NET Plus
WP 2010 (expected): 16 ERA-NET
 Majority of FP7 ERA-NETs on new topics with a substantial number of new participants

10. Lessons learned from INCO ERA-NET
Need for focusing on clear objectives for joint activities;
Mapping relevant fields for joint actions is crucial to avoid overlap and duplication;
Ensuring that the scope of research topics under joint actions is not too broad in order to avoid oversubscription.

11. Impact assessment Logic model
INPUT
PROCESSES
OUTPUTS
OUTCOMES
Systematic exchange of information and good practices
Undertaken by 67% of respondents
Pilot calls:
22 pilot calls
€14,752,000 funding
98 funding contributions
Impact on national programmes:
New opportunities to enable trans-national R&D activities
Adoption of new eligibility criteria to fund non-resident researchers (opening-up national programmes)
Identification &analysis of common strategic issues
Undertaken by 75%of respondents
Joint calls:
115 joint calls
€773,810,749 funding
597 funding contributions
€181.76M overall funding
Average EC input per ERA-NET: €2.56m
EC funding covered 78% of the total costs of participation on average
Planning and development of joint activities
Undertaken by 43% of respondents
Joint programmes:
15 joint programmes
€376,102,000 funding
64 funding contributions
Structuring effect:
Structuring effect occurred in specific research fields
Existing networks strengthened and extended
Behavioural additionality occurred
Implementation of joint research - generating outputs
73% of respondents participated in a joint call
Intangible outputs:
Multiple benefits outweighed the costs
Benefits from calls
Strengthened research networks

12. ERA-NET benefits
Building new networks and work relationships between research public stakeholders and their peers in other countries;
Creating new opportunities for enabling transnational research activities;
Longer-term added value resulting from a better coordination of R&D funding in Europe;
Development of new approaches for some EU Member States towards other countries outside Europe

13. Supporting initiatives
Optimise operational modalities and Impact Assessment
ERA-NET Learning Platform /  Aligning structures and procedures for simplified and efficient joint call activities towards a common organisational framework
ILN International Learning Network / Structuring the information/experience exchange between FP7 INCO projects
NETWATCH Information System  Central information platform for transnational R&D programme cooperation & analytical tools

14. Thank you for your attention!
Yves Maisonny
European Commission - Directorate-General for Research
International Cooperation Directorate
Tel.: