HLG - chair support

Project Information

HLG - chair support

Grant agreement ID: 777110

DOI

10.3030/777110

Project closed

EC signature date 7 July 2017

Start date 15 March 2017

End date 14 July 2017

Funded under

• PRIORITY 'Societal challenges

Total cost

€ 40 000,00

EU contribution

€ 40 000,00

Coordinated by

NOTRE EUROPE - INSTITUT JACQUES DELORS
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - HLG - chair support (HLG - chair support)

Reporting period: 2017-03-15 to 2017-07-14

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The European Commission set up a High Level Group on maximising the impact of EU Research and Innovation programmes as part of the interim evaluation of Horizon 2020 (Commission Decision of 21 September 2016). The high level group of experts advised on how to maximise the impact of the EU's investment into research and innovation. The Group was chaired by Pascal Lamy, President Emeritus of the Jacques Delors Institute. The Group's main task was to draw, within a report, strategic recommendations on maximising the impact of EU Research and Innovation programmes in the future and to formulate a vision for future EU Research and Innovation, as part of the interim evaluation of Horizon 2020. They based their work on the available Horizon 2020 interim evaluation results and other factual evidence, such as the results of the related public consultation which was open from October 2016 until January 2017.

The project aimed to provide analytical and administrative support to the Chair of the High Level Expert Group, acting on an honorary basis, including secretarial, coordination and logistical tasks as well as research support related to his work as Chair of the High Level Group for a period of 4 months, from 15 March 2017 to 14 July 2017. The support was required as the duties of the Chair demanded a considerable part of his time. The action was expected to contribute to the smooth conduct and progress of the work of the High Level Group.

Pascal Lamy is President emeritus of the Jacques Delors Institute, and his main office is based, since 2013, in its premises in Paris, including a personal assistant. The JDI team, composed of international and appropriately qualified senior researchers and advisors working in close connection with their President Emeritus on various subjects, provided analytical support for Pascal Lamy’s activities as Chair of the High Level Group.

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 JDI team, especially the personal assistant to Pascal Lamy, worked closely with the Secretariat of the High Level Group (based at the European Commission's DG Research and Innovation) during all this time and, usually, this involved daily contact.

The JDI coordinated the efforts to provide analytical and administrative support to the Chair of the High Level Group whose tasks consist, among other, in preparing, chairing and following–up on the official meetings of the Group, as well as additional working meetings (with European institutions, scientific community, press/media) that had been scheduled during the process.

Core tasks throughout the lifetime of the project included supporting the Chair in developing the agenda for each High Level Group meeting (in collaboration with the Secretariat) and in validating the minutes drafted after each meeting. Another important element was supporting the Chair in handling and responding to meeting requests received by DG Research and Innovation and/or other High Level Group members from external and EU institutional stakeholders (including bilateral meetings with EU Commissioners, for example), and screening and responding to the extensive volume of High Level Group-related telephone calls, emails and correspondence.

Other regular tasks included arranging travel and, hotel accommodation for the Chair for High Level Group meetings and other tasks related to the work of the Group, for example appearances of the Chair at external conferences. Typing, copying and distributing core documents and correspondence related to the work of the High Level Group, editing of presentation material for Group meetings was also a frequent task performed throughout the duration of the project.

The support has been provided by an appropriately qualified staff at the JDI.

The final report was published and presented at a high level conference organised on 3 July 2017 at the European Commission, which was attended by over 700 participants and followed online by many more.

Pascal Lamy’s speech is available via this link: https://ec.europa.eu/research/evaluations/pdf/speech_pascal-lamy_03072017.pdf#view=fit&pagemode=none

Final report: https://ec.europa.eu/research/evaluations/pdf/archive/other_reports_studies_and_documents/hlg_2017_report.pdf#view=fit&pagemode=none

Pascal Lamy and Commissioner Carlos Moedas presented the results of the work during the informal Competitiveness Council meeting on 25th July in Tallinn to the Science and Research Ministers of the EU Member States. The report and its findings were also disseminated to a wide range of stakeholders across the EU, published on various European Commission websites and highlighted via a dedicated press release.
"

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 report was particularly well received by European and national institutions, as well as by the different stakeholders and the national Ministers at the Competitiveness Council meeting in July 2017The report also received wide coverage in a range of European and international media outlets. The report is expected to exert a strong influence on the development of the next EU research and innovation programme.

Pascal Lamy will harness his wide range of working relationships throughout Europe to continue to disseminate the results of the report, while the other High Level Group members will act as ambassadors for the report's recommendations at high-level external events and conferences.

Report LAB - FAB - APP