EU Research Framework Programmes
The Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) was the EU's main instrument for funding research in Europe from 2007-2013. FP7 was designed to respond to Europe's employment needs, competitiveness and quality of life, which incorporated research pertaining to culture.
Horizon 2020 is the current EU research and innovation programme, successor to FP7, running from 2014 to 2020. Over seven years, the programme will make available €77 billion in funding for research and innovation, an almost 40% increase on FP7 in current prices.
Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over the period – in addition to the private investment that this money will attract. It promises more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market.
Horizon 2020 is structured around the objectives defined for its three priorities: "Excellent science", "Industrial leadership" and "Societal challenges". Culture comes under the umbrella of 'Societal Challenges'. Research infrastructures are leveraged for broader usage in society in a number of areas including culture.
FP7, 2007-13
A key tool to respond to Europe's needs in terms of jobs and competitiveness, and to maintain leadership in the global knowledge economy.
Research pertaining to Culture was conducted mainly under two of the ten different thematic research areas
Information and Communication technologies (€9.1 bn)
Socio-economic sciences and the humanities (€0.6 bn)
Horizon 2020, 2014-20
A means to drive economic growth and create jobs, Research is seen as investment in the future and at the heart of the EU’s blueprint for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and jobs.
The Horizon 2020 work programmes and calls 2016-2017 have been published and contain many opportunities for the cultural sector. Relevant funding opportunities can be found under:
The ex-post evaluation showed that the €55 billion invested over 7 years into EU's research and innovation proved highly attractive to private sector participants, including a record number of SMEs, which helped strengthen competitiveness of European industries. Expected results:
- New and or improved conservation and ICT technologies for culture
- Improved energy efficiency in historic buildings
- Developments in research on underwater culture
- Strengthen art, culture and humanities -the emergence of a European common identity, transnational dialogue and understanding
Horizon 2020, 2014-20
By coupling research and innovation, Horizon 2020 is expected to achieve an emphasis on excellent science, industrial leadership and tackling societal challenges.
Expected results:
- Enhance social cohesion, inclusion and well-being, transforming lives though cultural and technological innovations, also in their interaction.
- Drive economic growth and job creation in the field of cultural and creative (including digital) industries, (transform lives though cultural and technological innovations) .
- Improve the evidence (including statistical) base on the societal value and impact of culture.
- Strengthen shared European values, concepts of identity and cultural symbols to decrease polarisations, including from radical ideologies, through enhancing social inclusion and cultural dialogue
Described above.
On 19 January 2016 the European Commission adopted the ex-post evaluation of FP7. This consists of a Communication responding to the recommendations of an external High Level Expert Group and a Staff Working Document.
On 16 September 2016, the European Commission services published a roadmap on the evaluation and fitness check of Horizon 2020 outlining the background and planning of the process. This mid-term evaluation is foreseen by the Regulation establishing Horizon 2020 and will be carried out by 31 December 2017. It will cover the implementation of Horizon 2020 from 2014-2016 inclusive and will aim to also report on the wider impacts of EU Framework Programmes on a longer-term perspective.