Horizon Europe programme analysis

Key Impact Pathways - a modernised monitoring approach

The Commission’s proposal for Horizon Europe includes a ground breaking approach for capturing and communicating impact - the Key Impact Pathways. This approach aligns with a new level of ambition to boost the diversity of impact of EU research and innovation funding.

The objective is to allow policy makers and the wider public to get regular insights regarding the effects and benefits of the programme or European science, the economy and wider society.

The Key Impact Pathways will allow the Commission to capture and communicate the difference we are making around 9 key story lines during and after the programme.

Horizon Europe monitoring and evaluation framework

A Staff Working Document published by the Commission in 2023 describes the intervention logic of Horizon Europe, explains the evidence that will be used for designing, informing and improving the programme, including a comprehensive set of data and indicators.

It responds to the requirements set out in the Communication on the performance framework for the EU budget under the 2021-2027 MFF for each programme to have a monitoring and evaluation framework.

Key Impact Pathways

Final report

To find out more about the Key Impact Pathways:

• Indicator methodology and metadata handbook
• Operationalisation plan for IT systems
• Baseline and benchmark report

The impact assessment of Horizon Europe provides evidence-based policy and design recommendations. These include elements unique to the programme such as EU missions and a fully-fledged European Innovation Council.

The impact assessment for Horizon Europe was published in June 2018. It was drafted in line with the Commission’s better regulation guidelines and builds on

• evidence and lessons learned from the interim evaluation of the preceding programme, Horizon 2020
• recommendations of the independent high-level group on maximising the impact of EU research and innovation
• results of a stakeholder consultation

Article 52 of the Regulation establishing Horizon Europe outlines that evaluations will be carried out in a timely manner to feed into the decision-making process on Horizon Europe and future framework programmes.

An interim evaluation of Horizon Europe should be carried out once there is enough information about its implementation. It must be done no later than 4 years after the start of the programme.

It will assess the programme's effect based on its indicators and targets and provide a detailed analysis of the degree to which the programme is

• relevant
• effective
• efficient
• providing enough EU added-value
• coherent with other EU policies

The evaluation will also identify deficiencies or problems. It will identify potential to improve the programme’s activities and results and maximise the exploitation and impact of the programme.