Specific programme implementing the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2014-2020

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted the report by Maria Da Graça CARVALHO (EPP, PT) on the proposal for a decision establishing the Specific Programme Implementing Horizon 2020 – The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020).

The parliamentary committee approves the Commission proposal subject to the following amendments:

Excellence, the main driver of Horizon 2020: Members wish to stress that Horizon 2020 will have excellence as its main foundation, while it pursues three priorities, namely (i) generating scientific excellence; (ii) creating industrial leadership; and (iii) tackling societal challenges.

Specific objectives:

• Part I “Scientific excellence” should also pursue the specific objective of spreading excellence and widening participation.
• Part III should contribute to the achievement of the priority “societal challenges” by means of participative and cross-disciplinary research, technological development actions, demonstration and innovation actions, including on socio-economic questions and social innovation, and by promoting research with and for society. Among the specific objectives pursued should be, among other thing: (i) improving solutions for maintaining the autonomy of ageing persons; (ii) safeguarding quality agriculture; (iii) resource-conserving economy and accelerating climate change mitigation, considering its impacts on ecosystems, on the structure and reduction of biodiversity and on natural resource management; (iv) protecting the freedom and security of Europe and its citizens.

Evaluation of the specific programme: the general performance indicators should include the creation of patents and intellectual property rights (IPRs), the creation of start-ups and spin-offs and the implementation of research results in practice. Performance indicators, across all Horizon 2020 programmes, shall be published at least once a year and shall be constantly available to Union citizens through a public website.

Coordination and work programmes: Members call on the Commission to ensure effective coordination between the three main priorities of Horizon 2020.

• Strategic research and innovation coordination based on strategic scientific panels shall be established based on need and demand. When drafting the work programmes, the Commission shall consult those strategic scientific panels as well as other stakeholders using existing instruments whenever relevant, such as European Innovation Partnerships, European Technology Platforms and Joint Technology Initiatives.

• The Commission should include an indicator of the Technology Readiness Level (“TRL”) scale in actions it calls for in its work programmes.
• The work programmes shall include a balanced number of small (focused), medium and large (integrative) projects.

SMEs: Members call for particular attention to be paid, when financing SMEs, to simplification of procedures for accessing the funds and reporting obligations. At least 4% of the Horizon 2020 budget should be used for an instrument dedicated to SMEs. Moreover, at least 20% of the total combined budget for the specific objective 'Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies' and the priority "societal challenges" should go to SMEs.

Delegated acts: the power to adopt delegated acts shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of seven years from the entry into force of this Decision (and not for an indeterminate period, as proposed by the Commission).