This document summarizes a workshop on the Horizon 2020 program held in Brussels in 2014. The workshop included presentations from the European Commission and others on the structure and goals of Horizon 2020, focusing on supporting innovation and addressing societal challenges. Key points included that Horizon 2020 aims to link research investment to economic growth, take a challenge-based approach, and streamline the application and funding process. However, some participants raised concerns about the complexity of the administration and whether simplification truly benefits all.

1. Summary
from
the:
EUCOPE-­‐Pongratz
Consulting-­‐EURIDA
workshop
“En
Route
to
Horizon
2020”
Brussels
2014-­‐02-­‐04/05

2. Speakers:
• Dr
Alexander
Natz
(Chair
EUCOPE)
• Dr
Rudolf
Strohmeier
(Deputy
Director
DG-­‐Research
and
Innovation)
• Dr
Ingemar
Pongratz
(CEO
Fenix
Scientific,
Pongratz
Consulting)
• Dr
Rita
Clancy
(CEO
Eurida
Research
Management)
• Dr
Mike
Edwards
(Chair
EMIG)
• Dr
John
Stringer
(CEO
Berkley
Associates)
• Dr
Daniel
Schubart
(CEO
ConsulTech)

3. Sessions
• The
EU
view
on
Horizon
2020
and
other
funding
schemes
• Horizon
2020
structure
and
policy
background
• Horizon
2020
and
Innovation,
the
role
of
SME
• Societal
challenges
• The
role
of
charities
• Funding
the
research
base
• Rules
of
Participation
• COSME
and
Access
to
Risk
Finance
• Communication
and
Dissemination
• Practical
Approach
• The
Life
of
an
EU
project
Manager

4. Some
findings
• Horizon
2020
will
support
the
Innovation
Union
and
Europe
2020
objectives
• There
is
political
understanding
of
the
link
between
investments
in
Research
and
Innovation
and
Economic
Growth
• New
proposals
regarding
for
example
IMI
will
be
presented
to
the
EU
Parliament
soon
• Horizon
2020
will
look
for
Answers
not
for
Technology
• Horizon
2020
is
Challenge
driven
• Time
to
Grant
will
be
reduced,
negotiations
will
be
short
• Impact
will
be
a
key
discussion

5. Some
findings
• Charities
play
a
key
role
in
Innovation
Transfer
• Facilitators
between
Research
and
Patients
• Presentations
of
UK
models
of
Innovation
transfer

6. Some
Discussion
Issues
• Administration
issues
• The
Simplified
Model
Grant
Agreement
is
106
pages
long
• Hierarchy
of
Rules
still
complex
• Audits
based
Trust
• Accredited
Auditors
and
Audit
Procedures
• Simplification
for
whom?

8. Contact
Information
• Ingemar
Pongratz
• Ingemar.Pongratz@pongratzconsulting.com
• Rita
Clancy
• r.clancy@eurida-­‐research.com