The main aim of the NCP_WIDE.NET project is to create a transnational network of National Contact Points (NCPs) for Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation under Horizon 2020 in order to facilitate transnational co-operation between NCPs, with a view to identifying and sharing good practices and raising the general standards of support to program applicants. Special attention is given to help less experienced NCPs to wiring resources in the network, through mentoring visits, a learning platform for trans-national activities of the Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation NCPs, and to create a network of NCPs exploiting the synergies of distributed knowledge, collective development and trainings. The network develops high quality services provided to Widespread beneficiaries i.e. regional stakeholders participating in Teaming, Twinning, ERA Chairs and COST activities.
The overall structure of the NCP_WIDE.NET is divided into 5 Work Packages (WPs) which shall be implemented through the 60 months of the project’s duration. The WPs aim at receiving the impacts foreseen within the project and are as follow:
• WP1 is focusing on the management and coordination of the project.
• WP2 aims at improving the WIDESPREAD NCPs’ work effectiveness and quality of services, ensuring a consistent level of services provided across Europe. With this objective, special attention will be given to the identification of their needs, strengths and weaknesses in order to properly design the content of workshops, mentoring and training activities.
• WP3 puts emphasis on improving the expertise and knowledge base of success stories and best practices on Widespread activities such as Teaming and Twinning, ERA-Chairs, COST.
• WP4 corresponds to the need for effective collaboration with many different external partners and stakeholders for the sake of future applications under Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation scheme. In fact, the WP4 is aiming at improving, creating and coordinating collaboration opportunities.
• WP5 is dedicated to dissemination and promotion in order to increase the visibility of the Network and to raise the awareness of the opportunities offered by the Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation activities under Horizon 2020. The dissemination activities are proceed through various tools such as the Project Portal, promotional materials, social media and promotion during events.
