Why the Commission conducts impact assessments, evaluations and monitoring
Impact assessment, Evaluation and Monitoring of the EU’s framework programmes are defined by the better regulation guidelines.
These provide a set of common requirements for carrying out impact assessments, interim evaluations, ex-post evaluations and regular monitoring of how the progamme is implemented.
Consultations with stakeholders and citizens are a vital part of these activities.
Impact assessments
Impact assessments identify the main research and innovation challenges in Europe, outline the objectives of the future programmes and their foreseen structure.
Evaluations
Evaluations assess the progress made towards achieving the programme’s objectives and build an evidence base to improve the implementation of the current programme.
They also help to guide the development of future programmes.
Monitoring
Monitoring is a systematic process of data collection, addressing in particular how the programme is implemented.
The regular monitoring provides regular insights regarding the effects and benefits of the programme, is also instrumental for the analysis conducted in the evaluations.
A modernised monitoring approach is being developed for Horizon Europe.
Findings and evidence on EU research and innovation programmes
- Horizon Europe - the research and innovation funding programme from 2021 - 2027
- Horizon 2020 - the programme from 2014 - 2020
- FP7 and FP6 - past programmes from 2002 - 2013
Publications
Commission Expert Group on the Interim Evaluation of Horizon Europe. This independent expert report provides strategic recommendations on maximising the impact of EU Research and Innovation programmes in the future. It is based on the preliminary findings and data on Horizon Europe and findings and conclusions stemming from the ex-post evaluation of the Horizon 2020 programme, and on other sources.