Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ERA-LEARN 2020 (Strengthening joint programming in Europe)
Période du rapport: 2016-07-01 au 2018-06-30
The ERA-LEARN 2020 project is a mutual learning and support platform for the Public-Public-Partnerships (P2P) community. It involves the main stakeholders, from across Europe (and beyond), which are engaged in designing and deploying the broad structures and functions for the coordination and cooperation of national and/or regional research programmes. The P2P community is supported in investigating what has been learned and achieved by existing networks, if expectations have been met, and which positive effects have been observed by participating organisations or countries.
The specific objectives of ERA-LEARN 2020 were to:
- provide a web-based information, learning and support platform for P2P to avoid duplication of efforts;
- support the ongoing optimisation of P2P networks by supplying a toolbox to include the wider activities of joint programming, particularly the Joint Programming Initiatives (JPIs), the Art.185 initiatives and the Horizon 2020 ERA-NET Cofund instrument, as well as their associated impacts;
- implement a systematic process for monitoring & impact assessment of P2P networks, including their impacts at the policy, programme and transnational RTD project-level;
- assess and benchmark current approaches to alignment and explore options for new modalities that will better align national and/or regional activities under common research agendas;
- implement an annual cycle of knowledge exchange aimed at increasing the impact of investment in P2P activities and exploring options to support less research intensive countries.
The specific objectives of ERA-LEARN 2020 were to:
- provide a web-based information, learning and support platform for P2P to avoid duplication of efforts;
- support the ongoing optimisation of P2P networks by supplying a toolbox to include the wider activities of joint programming, particularly the Joint Programming Initiatives (JPIs), the Art.185 initiatives and the Horizon 2020 ERA-NET Cofund instrument, as well as their associated impacts;
- implement a systematic process for monitoring & impact assessment of P2P networks, including their impacts at the policy, programme and transnational RTD project-level;
- assess and benchmark current approaches to alignment and explore options for new modalities that will better align national and/or regional activities under common research agendas;
- implement an annual cycle of knowledge exchange aimed at increasing the impact of investment in P2P activities and exploring options to support less research intensive countries.
Main activities and results of the project:
• The ERA-LEARN 2020 portal www.era-learn.eu was set up and finally launched in July 2015. Following the feedback from different P2P-stakeholders and the ERA-LEARN Advisory Board the ERA-LEARN 2020 portal was restructured and modernized in 2018.
• ERA-LEARN contributed to GPC Implementation Groups on Framework Conditions (IGI), Alignment (IG2) and Assessment (IG3) and participated in activites of the JPI Task Force on Monitoring & Evaluation during 2017-2018.
• ERA-LEARN elaborated good practice case studies on 1) evaluation activities among JPIs and 2) internationalisation activities of JPIs. The case studies were presented in the annual report on good practices in the implementation of JPIs of 2017 and 2018. The annual summary report 2018 also comprises a short summary on all case studies performed during the period of the project. Furthermore a policy brief on Stakeholder Engagement was developed and JPI-tailored workshops, concentrating on the topics of alignment and the future of joint activities, were held.
• A systematic process for the monitoring & impact assessment of P2P networks at several levels was elaborated. Three annual reports on P2P Partnerships were prepared, a policy brief on Impact Assessment of Networks was developed and a workshop on evaluation and impact assessment of P2Ps was held. A reference library was elaborated with examples of indicators, impact assessment frameworks and impact assessment reports that have been produced by some of the more mature P2P networks. The Impact Assessment exercises carried out in 2016 and 2017 resulted in the ‘Update Report on the impacts of networks 2016’ and the ‘Policy Brief on Perceived impacts of P2P supported projects’. The Pilot project level impact assessment led to a ‘Strategy for Full-Scale Implementation of Project-Level Impact Assessment’ and initial implementation of the strategy. Furthermore the Guide for P2P impact assessment was finalised.
• ERA-LEARN assessed the current approaches to alignment developed a typology of alignment. This was followed by the production of more detailed learning publications including 23 case studies on the alignment of national strategies and programmes within the P2P community, a Toolbox of Current and Novel Alignment Modalities, a Report on Alignment at trans-regional level, and a SWOT analysise of the alignment modalities. Furthermore, several Alinment Workshops were organised (2015, 2016, 2017),
• Three Annual Joint Programming Conferences were organised (January 2016, November 2016 and November 2017).
• Seven ERA-LEARN 2020 newsletters were published.
• Three training workshops on the implementation of ERA-NET Cofund (2015, 2016, 2017) as well as three Training courses on the application of foresight-processes for trans-national coordination of strategic research and innovation (2016, 2017, 2018) were organised.
• A concept concerning branding of P2P was elaborated.
All files are published on www.era-learn.eu.
• The ERA-LEARN 2020 portal www.era-learn.eu was set up and finally launched in July 2015. Following the feedback from different P2P-stakeholders and the ERA-LEARN Advisory Board the ERA-LEARN 2020 portal was restructured and modernized in 2018.
• ERA-LEARN contributed to GPC Implementation Groups on Framework Conditions (IGI), Alignment (IG2) and Assessment (IG3) and participated in activites of the JPI Task Force on Monitoring & Evaluation during 2017-2018.
• ERA-LEARN elaborated good practice case studies on 1) evaluation activities among JPIs and 2) internationalisation activities of JPIs. The case studies were presented in the annual report on good practices in the implementation of JPIs of 2017 and 2018. The annual summary report 2018 also comprises a short summary on all case studies performed during the period of the project. Furthermore a policy brief on Stakeholder Engagement was developed and JPI-tailored workshops, concentrating on the topics of alignment and the future of joint activities, were held.
• A systematic process for the monitoring & impact assessment of P2P networks at several levels was elaborated. Three annual reports on P2P Partnerships were prepared, a policy brief on Impact Assessment of Networks was developed and a workshop on evaluation and impact assessment of P2Ps was held. A reference library was elaborated with examples of indicators, impact assessment frameworks and impact assessment reports that have been produced by some of the more mature P2P networks. The Impact Assessment exercises carried out in 2016 and 2017 resulted in the ‘Update Report on the impacts of networks 2016’ and the ‘Policy Brief on Perceived impacts of P2P supported projects’. The Pilot project level impact assessment led to a ‘Strategy for Full-Scale Implementation of Project-Level Impact Assessment’ and initial implementation of the strategy. Furthermore the Guide for P2P impact assessment was finalised.
• ERA-LEARN assessed the current approaches to alignment developed a typology of alignment. This was followed by the production of more detailed learning publications including 23 case studies on the alignment of national strategies and programmes within the P2P community, a Toolbox of Current and Novel Alignment Modalities, a Report on Alignment at trans-regional level, and a SWOT analysise of the alignment modalities. Furthermore, several Alinment Workshops were organised (2015, 2016, 2017),
• Three Annual Joint Programming Conferences were organised (January 2016, November 2016 and November 2017).
• Seven ERA-LEARN 2020 newsletters were published.
• Three training workshops on the implementation of ERA-NET Cofund (2015, 2016, 2017) as well as three Training courses on the application of foresight-processes for trans-national coordination of strategic research and innovation (2016, 2017, 2018) were organised.
• A concept concerning branding of P2P was elaborated.
All files are published on www.era-learn.eu.
Progress beyond the state of the art
ERA-LEARN 2020 has become a unique support platform for the Public-Public-Partnerships (P2P) community. It provides interactive access to a wide range of P2P related information and facilitates communication between P2P network actors through dedicated events, through a unique partner search tool, or by enabling the networks to announce news or events through the ERA-LEARN portal.
The ERA-LEARN 2020 portal contains comprehensive databases of all P2P networks and joint calls as well as a unique database of transnational projects funded by P2P networks. The ERA-LEARN 2020 portal has become an information hub for JPI stakeholders, providing case studies as well as a dedicated section for GPC related material.
ERA-LEARN 2020 has facilitated a step forward with respect to aligning national/regional activities, providing a clear and agreed definition and typology of alignment and several case studies on current approaches to alignment ,‘novel’ alignment modalities and trans-regional alignment.
With its process for monitoring and impact assessment ERA-LEARN 2020 has contributed to measuring the impact of P2Ps and developed guiding materials as well as policy briefs not only for the networks but also the national funding agencies.
Expected potential impact
Overall the ERA-LEARN 2020 project contributed to the following direct impacts:
• Increased efficiency of public administration & policy learning
Improved efficiency in public administration was conceived both in relation to managing limited resources, for example when deciding what joint programming initiatives to join, as well as achieving alignment at the operational and implementation levels to increase impacts.
• Increased awareness of joint programming and establishment of added value
ERA-LEARN 2020 raised awareness on joint programming process and initiatives by developing, compiling and disseminating learning material as widely as possible with its web-based tools and through facilitating exchange of experiences and training courses in areas of specific interest for P2Ps.
• Improved understanding of the joint programming approach to policy making and implementation and development of common approaches
With this process ERA-LEARN 2020 advanced the level of achievement from mere raising awareness to better understanding and even further to organisational and policy learning about P2P functioning and their impacts at national, trans-regional and international levels.
• Higher standards and increased effectiveness of joint programming activities
ERA-LEARN 2020 gave support to harmonise and coordinate processes and procedures of joint programming activities. This will lead to an increased effectiveness of joint programming activities and higher standards in joint programming that will be jointly agreed and practiced by the Member States themselves.
ERA-LEARN 2020 has become a unique support platform for the Public-Public-Partnerships (P2P) community. It provides interactive access to a wide range of P2P related information and facilitates communication between P2P network actors through dedicated events, through a unique partner search tool, or by enabling the networks to announce news or events through the ERA-LEARN portal.
The ERA-LEARN 2020 portal contains comprehensive databases of all P2P networks and joint calls as well as a unique database of transnational projects funded by P2P networks. The ERA-LEARN 2020 portal has become an information hub for JPI stakeholders, providing case studies as well as a dedicated section for GPC related material.
ERA-LEARN 2020 has facilitated a step forward with respect to aligning national/regional activities, providing a clear and agreed definition and typology of alignment and several case studies on current approaches to alignment ,‘novel’ alignment modalities and trans-regional alignment.
With its process for monitoring and impact assessment ERA-LEARN 2020 has contributed to measuring the impact of P2Ps and developed guiding materials as well as policy briefs not only for the networks but also the national funding agencies.
Expected potential impact
Overall the ERA-LEARN 2020 project contributed to the following direct impacts:
• Increased efficiency of public administration & policy learning
Improved efficiency in public administration was conceived both in relation to managing limited resources, for example when deciding what joint programming initiatives to join, as well as achieving alignment at the operational and implementation levels to increase impacts.
• Increased awareness of joint programming and establishment of added value
ERA-LEARN 2020 raised awareness on joint programming process and initiatives by developing, compiling and disseminating learning material as widely as possible with its web-based tools and through facilitating exchange of experiences and training courses in areas of specific interest for P2Ps.
• Improved understanding of the joint programming approach to policy making and implementation and development of common approaches
With this process ERA-LEARN 2020 advanced the level of achievement from mere raising awareness to better understanding and even further to organisational and policy learning about P2P functioning and their impacts at national, trans-regional and international levels.
• Higher standards and increased effectiveness of joint programming activities
ERA-LEARN 2020 gave support to harmonise and coordinate processes and procedures of joint programming activities. This will lead to an increased effectiveness of joint programming activities and higher standards in joint programming that will be jointly agreed and practiced by the Member States themselves.