Improved coordination of national and European bioeconomy research and innovation programmes in the ERA through strengthened SCAR Working Groups

Project Information

RefreSCAR

Grant agreement ID: 101060553

DOI

10.3030/101060553

EC signature date 3 June 2022

Start date 1 September 2023

End date 31 August 2027

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 3 999 952,50

EU contribution

€ 3 999 952,50

Coordinated by

TEAGASC - AGRICULTURE AND FOOD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Ireland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - RefreSCAR (Improved coordination of national and European bioeconomy research and innovation programmes in the ERA through strengthened SCAR Working Groups)

Reporting period: 2023-09-01 to 2025-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Context: In the area of agriculture, food, fisheries, forestry and the wider bioeconomy, the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR) brings together the European Commission and European countries with the aim of sharing information on research priorities and coordinating investments at the national and EU level. The vision of the RefreSCAR project is for a strengthened SCAR within the European Research Area (ERA). SCAR has made a significant contribution to establishing an ERA built on cooperation, coordination and information exchange and has provided the foundational basis for many of the ERA-NETs, and more recently the Horizon Europe Partnerships.
The SCAR Working Groups (WGs) and Task Forces (TFs) are the backbone of SCAR. They provide strategic policy advice, highlight priority research and innovation (R&I) topics and develop strategic R&I agendas. The overall aim of the RefreSCAR project is to facilitate improved coordination of national and European research programmes in the ERA through strengthened SCAR WGs and TFs.

The project’s specific objectives are to:
• Provide scientific & administrative support to the work of the SCAR WG/TFs, enhancing their capacity to formulate research policy advice and collaborate on matters of common interest.
• Enhance inclusiveness within SCAR WG/TFs and support active engagement of members.
• Connect actors across R&I, policy & practice with the aim of enabling SCAR to become a key bridging initiative across these domains.
• Help SCAR WG/TFs to reach a broader audience of stakeholders and strengthen linkages with key EU and international initiatives.
• Support the development of a strong SCAR Foresight process, including the effective dissemination of its outcomes.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The core RefreSCAR project methodology is designed around a toolkit of supports for the SCAR WG/TFs, aimed at strengthening their strategic functioning and capacities. The project has provided tailored support to SCAR WG/TFs in the form of:
• Administrative support for meetings, workshops and events
• Communication/dissemination support, including graphic design of WG/TF outputs and infographic design
• Portfolio Analyses (PAs) to map and valorise the results of projects of relevance to SCAR WG/TFs, including their policy impact
• Studies to address priority knowledge needs of the WG/TFs

Additionally, three other main action areas have also served to boost the impact of SCAR WG/TFs:
• SCAR-Engage – supporting active engagement of SCAR WG/TF members, fostering mutual learning and creating more inclusive WG/TFs. 14 new SCAR WG/TF members from five countries were onboarded in the 1st SCAR-Engage Programme call in 2024.
• SCAR-Foresight – providing targeted operational support to the SCAR Foresight Group in developing the 6th SCAR Foresight Exercise. A study titled ‘Lessons learned from previous SCAR foresight exercises’ was finalised in January 2025. Targeted support has been provided for the preparatory phases of the 6th Foresight Exercise, including organising two workshops to discuss a list of topics and conclude on a working title for the 6th SCAR Foresight study.
• SCAR-Connect – cultivating connections between SCAR WG/TFs and key actors across R&I, policy and practice. The European R&I – Policy – Practice landscape relating to SCAR WG/TFs was mapped and a report produced which will contribute to future related tasks. Support for policy impact has been assessed through a mapping exercise and study, and connections with practice fostered, including through an event co-organised with actors of the EU CAP Network in Portugal on ‘Agroforestry in Europe’.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The assistance provided by RefreSCAR is supporting SCAR to work in partnership for a reinforced EU R&I system and to have a more significant impact within the ERA. Outcomes so far include:
• Tailored administrative support enabling more efficient and better structured organisation, facilitation and reporting of WG/TF activities in support of European policy objectives, including enhanced R&I cooperation.
• Facilitating collaboration between WG/TFs particularly on topics that are relevant to multiple groups and supporting joint WG/TF initiatives (workshops, PA/study requests, joint policy briefs published). The Forum of WG/TF Chairs has also provided an opportunity for WG/TFs to disseminate their plans and highlight potential areas for collaboration, including with the EU CAP Network. These efforts contribute towards a pooling of resources and capacities to more effectively address societal challenges and enable better transfer of knowledge innovation into application.
• A study assessing and prioritising SCAR WG/TF ambitions and initiatives relevant to European R&I Policy. This provides insights into potential mechanisms for WG/TFs to have even greater impact on R&I policy and support evidence-informed policymaking.
• The report on ‘Lessons learned from the previous SCAR Foresight Exercises’ was completed early to provide recommendations that will be useful for the 6th Foresight Exercise.
• The PAs and studies being conducted are enhancing the knowledge base in the topic areas and boosting WG/TF activities and expertise. The outputs from the Studies and PAs will increase the scientific impact from the project. These studies/PAs will focus on R&I gaps and feed into policy development in the long term.