FP7 Ex-Post Assessment

Based on the ex-post evaluation document provided, here is a structured summary of the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) performance and the subsequent transition to Horizon 2020.

📊 Evaluation Summary: FP7 Ex-Post Assessment

This evaluation covers the impact of the EU’s main instrument for funding research and development between 2007 and 2013, involving a total investment of billions of euros.

1. 💰 Financial & Economic Impact

  • Multiplier Effect: Each euro spent by FP7 generated approximately €11 in direct and indirect economic effects.1
  • GDP Contribution: Estimated to increase GDP by €20 billion per year over 25 years (Total: €500 billion).2
  • Job Creation: * 130,000 research jobs per year (over 10 years).
    • 160,000 additional indirect jobs per year (over 25 years).
  • SME Investment: €6.4 billion was awarded to SMEs, exceeding the 15% target.
  • Risk-Sharing Finance Facility: Signed loan agreements worth €11.3 billion with over 100 companies.

2. 🎯 Scientific Achievements & Excellence

  • Publications: Generated 170,000 publications, with a 54% Open Access rate.3
  • High Impact: Up to 30% of publications ranked in the top 5% of highly-cited works in their disciplines.4
  • Innovation: Resulted in 1,700 patent applications and 7,400 commercial exploitations.5
  • Talent: Supported 50,000 researchers, including 10,000 PhD candidates from 140 countries.6
  • Recognition: ERC (European Research Council) funding became a “hallmark of excellence,” associated with several Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals.7

3. 🧪 Key Research Areas & Benefits

AreaFundingProjectsNotable Achievements
ICT€7.9bn2,328Advances in AI, IoT, and Quantum Computing.
Health€4.8bn1,008Screening for Alzheimer’s/Diabetes; portable PET scans; breast cancer oral tests.
Energy€1.9bn374Renewable energy (wind, solar, biomass) and hydrogen storage.
Environment€1.7bn494Earth observation and sustainable development assessment tools.
Clean Sky€1.9bn474Helicopter CO2 reduction (30%) and noise reduction (47%).
Security€1.3bn319Disaster management and reduced community fragmentation.

4. 🏛️ Participants & Reach

  • Total Proposals: 136,000 (25,000 projects funded).
  • Global Reach: Participants from 170 countries (86% EU, 8% Associated, 6% rest of world).
  • Organization Types: * 70% of funding went to Universities and Research Organizations.
    • 25% went to the Private Sector (half of which were SMEs).
    • 5% went to Public Bodies.
  • Newcomers: Over 70% of participating organizations were new to the programme.

5. ⚠️ Identified Shortcomings

The Commission highlighted three major areas where FP7 fell short:

  • Lack of Simplification: The level of complexity was unsatisfactory, leading to high error rates and rigid procedures.8
  • Isolated “Silos”: Different parts of the programme operated independently, causing overlaps and inefficiencies.9
  • Poor Synergies: Difficulty in coordinating with other EU funding (like Structural Funds) due to separate legal bases and rules.10

6. 🚀 Transition to Horizon 2020 (Recommendations)

The High Level Expert Group (HLEG) made five key recommendations, which have been integrated into Horizon 2020:

  1. Critical Focus: Prioritize major global societal challenges and boost private sector participation.
  2. Alignment: Better coordinate EU regional funding and align national research strategies.
  3. Integration: Apply a single set of rules across the programme to break down “silos.”
  4. Science for Citizens: Involve the public in research topics and strengthen open access.
  5. Strategic Monitoring: Improve the feedback loop from project results to policy making.

7. 🌐 Links & Archival Information

  • Successor Programme: Horizon 2020
  • Evaluation Guidelines: ‘Better Regulation’ Guidelines (Effectiveness, Efficiency, Relevance, Coherence, EU Added Value).11
  • Full Report (HLEG): Published November 19, 2015.

Would you like me to look for the Visual Factsheets or the specific IP/16/145 press release mentioned in the document for more granular data?

Scroll to Top