Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CARE4BIO (Network of National Contact Points for Cluster 6: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment)
Reporting period: 2022-06-01 to 2023-11-30
CARE4BIO serves the needs for transnational cooperation between National Contact Points for Cluster 6 as well as for cross-cluster cooperation within Pillar 2, but also with other programme parts such as Widening Participation. Our consortium comprises a well-balanced network of 26 partners, including partners from the EU-13 and Associated Countries, combing all levels of relevant experience and expertise. Many of us fulfil multiple roles, for instance also working as NCPs in other Clusters and Pillars of Horizon Europe or in the Enterprise Europe Network. We are well set-up to deliver on our objectives, namely to (1) harmonise NCP services and increase their quality via transnational cooperation, (2) lower entry barriers for applicants, especially in less active member states and raise the quality of submitted proposals, (3) inform the European R&D community about cross-cutting synergies throughout Horizon Europe. To achieve this, we will cooperate with other (NCP) networks such as the ones mentioned above, to share knowledge and best practices, maximise efforts on informing NCPs, applicants and stakeholders, thereby raising the quality of proposals, breaking down silos, and encouraging trans-cluster collaboration. We will cooperate with the European Commission to assist in delivering upon political objectives such as the EU Green Deal, guiding applicants on policies, and providing feedback from our work as NCPs. We also offer concrete services for applicants, e.g. by organising yearly brokerage events to aid applicants in forming their own cooperation networks, and by supporting other matchmaking efforts. Our services will include training, learning resources, best practice manuals, and more. While our services will be available to whoever needs them, our focus is on NCPs and applicants from widening countries. Ultimately, our goal is to raise the general standard of support for potential applicants of Horizon Europe, contributing to increasing the quality of applications/proposals.
During the 1st reporting period, all three specific objectives were targeted via project’s activities. Regarding activities addressing Cluster 6 NCPs, 3 trainings were organised gathering more than 150 participants. Topics were identified via the survey on NCPs’ needs (71 responses). Moreover, two experience exchange events were organised (about 100 participants in total). Several documents were prepared as supporting material to NCPs such as Welcome & info package for newcomer NCPs, Guide for newcomer NCPs "How to advise clients", Integrated best practices guide, Annotated proposal templates for cluster 6, Updated Public E-booklet "Good practices for EEN-NCP Collaboration". Additional documents were prepared as supporting material to NCPs and applicants such as the Online Database with relevant EU policies/strategies and the Stakeholders Map. All documents as well as presentations from trainings/events are uploaded on the repository of project’s website.
Furthermore, two brokerage events (BE) were organised in conjunction with the EC Cluster 6 Info Days in 2022 and 2023, assisting applicants in consortia building. The first event Horizon Europe Brokerage Event for Cluster 6 - Calls 2023 was organised on 19 December 2022, online. The second event Horizon Europe Brokerage Event for Cluster 6 - Calls 2024 took place on 26 September 2023, in Brussels. To facilitate a longer period for networking and partnership building, the platform remained open after each brokerage event providing the possibility for online meetings. More than 1600 persons participated in the first online BE, while more than 900 persons in total participated in the second BE (more than 200 participated onsite).
Collaborations and synergies were well established during the 1st reporting period. Collaborations were built with other NCP networks (7 in total) leading to joint activities such as webinars. Those activities contributed to trans-cluster and trans-pillar collaboration addressing both NCPs and applicants. Moreover, collaboration with EEN was established. Two MoUs were signed, one with EEN SG Agrifood and one with EEN TG Sustainability targeting to joint actions for the benefit of applicants. Activities such as partner search, networking, dissemination of CARE4BIO activities, brokerage events, trainings and awareness-raising activities for applicants as well as broader awareness-raising on Horizon Europe Cluster 6 funding opportunities are foreseen. Moreover, relevant Cluster 6 stakeholders were approached and initial meetings were organised raising visibility of CARE4BIO and leading to collaborations such as the NCP training with CBE.
Communication and dissemination activities are significantly complementing all other project’s activities contributing to its impact. C&D activities are targeting both NCPs and applicants as well as other Cluster 6 stakeholders. Activities and tools include the website (including internal repository for NCPs), the promotional material, the external and internal newsletter (addressing to NCPs) and the social media accounts. The website www.care4bio.eu is hosted on www.horizoneuropencpportal.eu. CARE4BIO’s social media include Linkedin, Twitter/X and YouTube.
Furthermore, two brokerage events (BE) were organised in conjunction with the EC Cluster 6 Info Days in 2022 and 2023, assisting applicants in consortia building. The first event Horizon Europe Brokerage Event for Cluster 6 - Calls 2023 was organised on 19 December 2022, online. The second event Horizon Europe Brokerage Event for Cluster 6 - Calls 2024 took place on 26 September 2023, in Brussels. To facilitate a longer period for networking and partnership building, the platform remained open after each brokerage event providing the possibility for online meetings. More than 1600 persons participated in the first online BE, while more than 900 persons in total participated in the second BE (more than 200 participated onsite).
Collaborations and synergies were well established during the 1st reporting period. Collaborations were built with other NCP networks (7 in total) leading to joint activities such as webinars. Those activities contributed to trans-cluster and trans-pillar collaboration addressing both NCPs and applicants. Moreover, collaboration with EEN was established. Two MoUs were signed, one with EEN SG Agrifood and one with EEN TG Sustainability targeting to joint actions for the benefit of applicants. Activities such as partner search, networking, dissemination of CARE4BIO activities, brokerage events, trainings and awareness-raising activities for applicants as well as broader awareness-raising on Horizon Europe Cluster 6 funding opportunities are foreseen. Moreover, relevant Cluster 6 stakeholders were approached and initial meetings were organised raising visibility of CARE4BIO and leading to collaborations such as the NCP training with CBE.
Communication and dissemination activities are significantly complementing all other project’s activities contributing to its impact. C&D activities are targeting both NCPs and applicants as well as other Cluster 6 stakeholders. Activities and tools include the website (including internal repository for NCPs), the promotional material, the external and internal newsletter (addressing to NCPs) and the social media accounts. The website www.care4bio.eu is hosted on www.horizoneuropencpportal.eu. CARE4BIO’s social media include Linkedin, Twitter/X and YouTube.
At this section, we would like to highlight the significant level of participation in the two brokerage events that CARE4BIO organised in conjunction with the EC Cluster 6 Info Days in 2022 and 2023, assisting applicants in consortia building. More than 1600 persons participated in the first online BE, while more than 900 persons in total participated in the second BE (more than 200 participated onsite). From the feedback questionnaire of the first BE the following numbers derived: 84% of participants found at least some potential collaborators, 20% stating to have found many collaborators, 24% stated that the BE had helped to either recruiting partners or join consortia. Feedback shows that CARE4BIO brokerage event fostered transnational collaboration facilitating global networking and partnership formation.
To ensure further uptake and success, ongoing efforts are needed to: enhance visibility and accessibility of NCP services and support mechanisms, foster continued engagement and collaboration among NCPs and applicants beyond individual events, address specific needs of widening countries, providing tailored support to enhance participation and competitiveness in Horizon Europe.
To ensure further uptake and success, ongoing efforts are needed to: enhance visibility and accessibility of NCP services and support mechanisms, foster continued engagement and collaboration among NCPs and applicants beyond individual events, address specific needs of widening countries, providing tailored support to enhance participation and competitiveness in Horizon Europe.