Outcomes of the task force ”Impact of NCP projects”

Monique Bossi

Benchmarking on Macro and Micro Level & Gathering Future Needs” 30-31of May 2017, Helsinki

Rationale Targets:

1) NCPs 2) R&I communities Background:

1) Role of NCPs linked to the “Minimum standards and Guiding…

2) NCP projects to support transnational cooperation among NCPs and the implementation of the WPs

Methodology:

Identify Specificities, Complementarities and overcome Overlapping (if any), is crucial to provide effective and attractive services and activities.

Results: Recommendation paper (for the networks and the EC)

Participants and timeline

17 NCP Network Projects

4 Experts

4 National coordinators

Dec. 2016: TF meeting

Apr. 2017: final report

26 Jan. 2017: presentation

Jan. 2017: consolidated

draft

Methodology

3 rounds of consultations were launched: 1. “Feedback from the review meetings” 2. “Collection of data on individual and joint

activities” 3. “Continuation of Network activities”

1. Feedback from the review meetings

Benefit from the review exercise:

- Importance of comments from the outside; - Strategic input is received from reviewers; - Provides self-criticism and self-evaluation; - Important from the managerial point of view; - Strengthening the network

Room for improvement: - Request for professionalism from NCPs; - Enhancement/strengthening services offered; - KPIs on impacts; - Targeted services (e.g. by country, by sector...); - Engagement of “associate NCPs” - Upgrade services to attract clients

Main findings 1

- Common KPIs for all NCP networks cannot be introduced as the services and networks themes are different. But common strong points of all networks can be monitored and assessed as a unique NCP service;

- Many Networks are performing some services externalized by the EC (e.g. infodays, NCP trainings, public events...);

- Positive attitude and cooperation with respective “Thematic Units”;

- More and more clients and applicants are directly involved in the Network activities;

- NCP projects coordinators established an informal forum to cooperate exchange information and good and bad practices to optimize the use of the resource and maximize the impact.

2. Collection of data on individual and joint activities • Trainings/seminars (NCPs): > 100

• Webinars: > 60

• Staff exchange: >80

• Public events*: > 70

• Participants: > 10.000

• Documents**: > 150

• Partner searches: > 600

• NCPs involved: > 1000

• Speakers: > 300

• EC officers: > 60

• Videos: > 20

*Including infodays, brokerage events, training for stakeholders, conferences… ** Guidelines, factsheets, working tools

Main finding 2

From individual networks: - Working groups established with EC and Agencies, feedback mechanisms

- Co-organization of events with EC and Agencies - MoUs with EEN and other initiatives - International cooperation

- Repositories, databases

From joint activities:

- Pills - Coordinators forum - Common entry portal (under construction)

3. Continuation of Network activities

- All networks welcome a stronger integration of widening targeted activities in the future thematic networks, including the possible creation of a Task Force – or similar;

- Thematic network can play a stronger role, thanks to the direct and daily interaction with both the applicants and the EC, as intermediary and “think tank”;

- The investment made in terms of human resources, effort, budget and dedication cannot be wasted or reduced as this will imply a despicable loss of knowledge and community. Rebuilding it may result in an even more expensive action.

3. Recomendations

• Bridging the Programmes: NCP Network Projects should be up and running during the launch of FP9 to support NCPs and applicants;

• Cooperation with the EC: there should be a standard and shared approach for all DGs towards the networks and Agencies.

• Services: the NCP related topic description in the WP should be tailor made as far as possible (go beyond one text for all) in order to reflect the relevant specificities and complementarities.

Impacts: on the NCPs

NCP projects provide a unique benefit that makes the existence of individual network projects meaningful.

• Community: the networks represent a community for all NCPs irrespective of the geographical belonging or experience and ensure equal access to information, documents, expertise…

• Benchmarking: specific needs and competencies are usually assessed and taken into consideration in the implementation of the network workplan (e.g. trainings, welcome pack, mentoring, staff exchange);

• Transnational cooperation: ultimately it raises the general standard of support, ensuring that the programme becomes known and readily accessible to all potential applicants.

Impacts: on beneficiaries

17

112158

Par cipants

ThirdC. WideningC. MS/AC

€508291.000

€10845333.000

€22420436.000

ECcontribu on

ThirdC. WideningC. MS/AC

Participants Budget

Third Countries* 6% 2%

Widening countries 39% 32%

MS/AC** 55% 66%

*Includes Switzerland **excluding Widening Countries

Source: eCorda

Impacts: on coordinators

NCP project coordinators established a Task Force to discuss, compare and improve the services they provide and the impact they generate. The TF interacts with other stakeholders including the EC Officers, National Coordinators and experts that have been – and possibly will be – involved in the development of the TF’s activities. Methodology:

Physical meetings, emails, phone calls, working groups… Results: “Coordinators forum”

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 633563.

http://www.ncpacademy.eu

Thank you for your attention