Evaluation study of the European framework programmes for research and innovation for excellent science: Horizon 2020 : phase 1 final study report

This study assesses the overall contribution of Horizon 2020 to excellent science across the framework programme with a particular focus on the activities under Pillar 1, Excellent Science (i.e. the European Research Council (ERC), Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), European research infrastructures (INFRA), and Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)), as well as the horizontal pillars Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation (SEWP) and Science with and for Society (SwafS). The study builds on the Horizon 2020 intervention logic and relies on a wide range of methods. These include (but are not limited to) desk research, a broad-scope interview programme, 15 case studies and four
international benchmark studies, a survey programme, a bibliometric analysis, econometric modelling, and the analysis of (unstructured and EC monitoring) data. The findings of the study respond to a set of evaluation questions covering the five evaluation criteria: relevance, coherence, efficiency, effectiveness
and EU added value. This study places a stronger focus on the key findings, conclusions and recommendations in relation to efficiency, effectiveness and EU added value, as the other evaluation criteria are analysed in greater depth by other ongoing studies.