FRAMEWORK FOR FEEDBACK TO POLICY

IN
THE EUROPEAN RESEARCH COUNCIL EXECUTIVE AGENCY

16 December 2022

1. AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON FRONTIER RESEARCH ............... 2

1.1. Background ................................................................................................................... 2
1.2. Role of the B0 sector Scientific Impact and Feedback to Policy .................................. 4
2. F2P FRAMEWORK TAILORED FOR ERC ......................................................................... 4
2.1. Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 4
2.2. Key principles ............................................................................................................... 5
2.3. ERCEA organisation..................................................................................................... 5
3. F2P PLANS ............................................................................................................................. 7
3.1. Criteria for prioritisation in F2P and proposed areas of activity................................... 7
3.2. Types of outputs............................................................................................................ 8
3.3. Thematic foresight ........................................................................................................ 8
4. PROPOSED 2023 PLAN ...................................................................................................... 10
ANNEXES ..................................................................................................................................... 13
Annex 1: 2022 F2P activities – Some examples ................................................................... 13
Annex 2: ERCEA F2P network ............................................................................................. 15
Annex 3: ERCEA Mapping Activity group........................................................................... 15

ERC Executive Agency

Place Rogier 16, COV2 20/161, BE-1049 Brussels, Belgium I Tel: +32 2 296 4807 I Eleni.Zika@ec.europa.eu I http://erc.europa.eu
1. AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON FRONTIER RESEARCH

“Today I would like to tell you three reasons why, and three ways how, our governments need to
work with science. The first reason is: we need science to make sense of the world around us.
Second, we need science to guide us. And third, we need science to find new solutions to the
challenges of our times, and to fuel innovation for a healthy planet”. – Ursula von der Leyen,
Nobel Prize Summit 2021

1.1. Background

The European Research Council Executive Agency, as the ERC’s dedicated implementation
structure1 is responsible for implementing the programme and supporting the Scientific Council in
all of its tasks. Since the beginning of its activities, ERCEA has, in this context, collected, analysed
and reported data and information on ERC funded research and its results. The main recipients of
this information include the ERC President and the Scientific Council, the Directorate General
Research and Innovation (DG R&I) and may also be of interest for as well as other policy DGs,
and other EU institutions. Other stakeholders receiving such information on a regular basis include
the ERC Programme Committee, ERC National Contact Points and the public.

Within Horizon Europe, the ERCEA has a new delegated task to identify, analyse and
communicate policy relevant results of ERC funded research and project portfolios in
general to the Commission. This is termed Feedback to Policy and will be referred to
throughout the document as F2P2.

The delegation act specifically states that “to provide feedback to the Commission to serve as input
for monitoring, reviewing and rectifying existing policy measures or shaping new policy initiatives
and decisions, the Agency shall identify and report on the relevant knowledge acquired from the
management of the programmes and their results.”

In addition, the Memorandum of Understanding between the ERCEA and DG R&I sets out the
modalities of feedback to policy for the agency taking into account the specificities of the ERC
program.3

In line with this, the Commission’s Common Implementation Centre in DG R&I has proposed a
collaborative framework for F2P in Horizon Europe, which should ensure a coordinated approach
for efficient and timely feedback. This F2P framework is being rolled out as of April 20214, at least
for Pillar 2 programmes, while roll out for Pillars 1 and 3 is under development.

More recently, at the request of Commissioner Gabriel and with the support of Commissioner
Ferreira (Cohesion and Reforms), DG R&I and the JRC, with the support of DG REFORM, drafted
a Staff Working Document (SWD) on the use of science in informing policy making in the

1COMMISSION DECISION C(2021)3402 of 12/05/2021 establishing the European Research Council for Horizon
Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and innovation and repealing Decision C(2013)8915, https://eur-
lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021D0617%2803%29
2(C(2021) 950 final) COMMISSION DECISION of 12.2.2021 delegating powers to the European Research Council

Executive Agency with a view to the performance of tasks linked to the implementation of Union programmes in the
field of frontier research comprising, in particular, implementation of appropriations entered in the general budget of the
Union, Brussels, 12.2.2021, https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/3/2021/EN/C-2021-950-F1-EN-MAIN-PART-
1.PDF
3
Memorandum of Understanding ERCEA-DG RTD Ares(2022)7507812 - 28/10/2022
4
https://myintracomm.ec.europa.eu/dg/RTD/cic/main/CIC-activities/cic-dkm/Pages/Reporting-and-Feedback-to-Policy-
Making.aspx
2
Member States5 pointing further to the important of strengthening the connection of science and
research ecosystems with policy making.

This new-delegated activity offers the Agency an opportunity to revisit, enhance and better
structure its approach towards showcasing the value of knowledge and outcomes generated by
ERC-funded frontier research, while investigating and developing better ways of relating these to
relevant policy priorities and societal challenges, where possible. It also offers the possibility to
eventually inform future work programmes under Horizon Europe, based on the identification of
emerging trends pushing the frontiers of science and technology, as well as longer-term policy
developments (e.g., next Framework Programmes).

The ERC Scientific Council (ScC) sets the ERC strategy and has a duty to monitor and evaluate
the quality of the ERC’s operations and its achievements and to conduct communication and
outreach activities. The ScC has a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Strategy last revised in 2018,
a Standing Committee for Programme Impact Monitoring and Evaluation (PRIME) set up in 20196
and an annual communication strategy7.

The F2P activities envisaged in ERCEA will thus also inform various pillars of the ScC M&E
strategy and external communication strategy and will accordingly be coordinated with PRIME -
namely for the parts on impacts beyond science. In addition, they will support ERCEA’s
contributions in the context of the interim8 and final ex-post evaluation of the framework
programme9 (the ex-post evaluation of Horizon 2020 is due in 2023 and the interim evaluation of
Horizon Europe in 202410). Finally, these activities may also support the external evaluation of the
operations of ERCEA foreseen every three years11, as part of the reporting exercises of the
Commission12.

As the ERC implements a bottom-up programme that does not respond to any political priorities,
a well-defined strategy for F2P is essential for delivering relevant high-quality contributions in tune
with the specificities of ERC. This will also allow a more efficient response to the needs of our
partners and stakeholders, by planning and coordinating all relevant activities, while maintaining
agility, and limiting the overall workload of the agency.

To this end, the present note sets out a proposed Feedback to Policy framework for ERCEA
including the structure and modalities of annual F2P plans. This framework builds on the F2P
collaborative framework proposed by the European Commission for Horizon Europe as well as the
requirements described in the Memorandum of Understanding between ERCEA and DG R&I13. It
also builds on existing F2P experiences and capabilities, as well as preparatory discussions with the
Scientific Council and the ERCEA Steering Committee. The goal is to provide a structure for F2P
activities, to identify priorities, and to ensure effective collaboration between the Agency, its parent
DGs and other key stakeholders. This framework represents a first outline that will be adapted
according to experiences gained and the needs identified by the ERCEA and the Scientific Council.

5https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/event/launch-event-commission-staff-working-document-supporting-connecting-

policymaking-member_en
6 https://erc.europa.eu/erc-standing-committees/programme-impact-monitoring-and-evaluation
7 https://erc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/document/file/ERC-Communication-Strategy-2022.pdf
8 https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/interim-evaluation-horizon-2020_en
9 https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/strategy/support-policy-making/shaping-eu-research-and-innovation-

policy/evaluation-impact-assessment-and-monitoring/past-framework-programmes_en
10 https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/strategy/support-policy-making/shaping-eu-research-and-innovation-

policy/evaluation-impact-assessment-and-monitoring_en
11 https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/6e06be2d-8a25-11ea-812f-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
12 http://intranet.ercea.cec.eu.int/processesprocedures/ics/Pages/ERCEA-Annual-Activity-Reports-(AAR).aspx
13
Memorandum of Understanding ERCEA-DG RTD Ares(2022)7507812 - 28/10/2022

3
 1.2. Role of the B0 sector Scientific Impact and Feedback to Policy

In 2021, under the umbrella of the ERCEA’s Continuous Improvement (CI) Programme14, a
specific project was set up to look at how ERCEA could manage F2P, in light of its current
capabilities and responsibilities, and keeping in mind activities developed in the context of the ERC
M&E and communication strategies. The CI project chose to broaden the scope of the discussion
and delivered a 16-point action plan, which was presented to ERCEA management and ERC
Scientific Council. The plan15 proposed actions aimed to improve and better coordinate ERCEA’s
current knowledge management activities, also in view of supporting F2P. For the latter, a robust
and efficient business process and the establishment of a single point of entry for F2P requests and
a dedicated team were identified as key actions.

Consequently, ERCEA management decided in December 2021 to establish a dedicated sector in

the Scientific Department on Scientific Impact and Feedback to Policy (ERCEA.B0).

The sector’s overall purpose is to develop, implement and coordinate a bottom-up F2P
approach for the Agency as well as related activities in connection with the monitoring and
analysis of scientific impacts of ERC funded research.

The sector is located in the Scientific Department to be close to- and harness the knowledge of the
scientific officers in the different domains as well as of colleagues involved in data analysis, project
follow up and ethics of research. Close cooperation with colleagues in other Units and Departments
(Units A1, A2 among others) is also key. With a view to such close cooperation, the sector will
coordinate a cross-agency F2P network and report on F2P activities in relevant Agency committees
such as the Scientific Department Project Follow Up Steering Committee (PFUSC) and the Agency
Knowledge Management Steering Committee (KMSC).

More details on the F2P framework and the overall role and activities of the sector are outlined in
the next sections.

2. F2P FRAMEWORK TAILORED FOR ERC

2.1. Objectives

The overall goals of ERCEA’s proposed F2P framework are:

➢ To demonstrate and reiterate the intrinsic value of curiosity-driven frontier research.

➢ To establish a robust and efficient F2P approach in agreement with the ScC that is adapted
to ERC’s specificities and can both anticipate and respond to societal challenges and the
needs of policy-makers.

➢ To harness and valorise frontier knowledge and its results through systematic portfolio
analyses that will allow the ERC to communicate more widely to policy-makers and other
relevant stakeholders.

➢ To identify emerging trends through thematic foresight and inform programming when
relevant and possible.

14https://myintracomm.ec.europa.eu/dg/ercea/aboutus/ContinuousImprovement/Pages/CI---Project-Tracker.aspx
15
https://myintracomm.ec.europa.eu/dg/ercea/aboutus/ContinuousImprovement/Documents/Feedback%20to%20Policy%
20-%20Report%20v.17.pdf

4
 2.2. Key principles

The ERCEA F2P framework should be guided by the following key principles, which will be
essential for ensuring a successful and effective implementation:

➢ A common understanding of expectations and approach: focus on the inherent value of the
knowledge and results generated by frontier research and its relevance for informing
policy, but not offering policy advice.

➢ Demand-based as well as anticipatory and planning approach: coherent and effective

planning for structured activities (proactive) while handling ad-hoc (reactive) requests in a
context of limited resources, tight timelines, and in-house knowledge of relevant EU
policies.

➢ Process efficiency: avoiding duplication of tasks; ensuring clarity of requests; valorising

the improved and automatised data gathering via the streamlining of existing IT tools and
databases; flexibility (taking into account evolving policy priorities, resources constraints
etc.).

➢ Good internal coordination and business intelligence: build on existing work relevant for
F2P and valorise/streamline available data and information/initiatives - e.g. ‘Mapping’ or
Science Behind the Projects (SBP), Scientific Assessment of Projects (SAP), science
stories, ERC scientific conferences, factsheets – including in the context of Knowledge
Management Steering Committee.

➢ Close collaboration with DG R&I and other policy DGs16 when appropriate (through the
F2P HE network and/or direct contacts) to be informed about policy needs; to ensure
clarity of scope and the purpose of requests received.

➢ Sharing information and enhancing synergies with other EC bottom-up programmes and
other programmes.

➢ Monitoring the impact of provided inputs and outputs; ensuring quality control and when
necessary review; maintaining an up-to-date inventory of inputs/outputs.

2.3. ERCEA organisation

The B0 sector, attached to the Head of the Scientific Management Department (B),

➢ acts as a single point of entry for F2P requests from policy DGs and for briefing requests
addressed to department B.

➢ The sector is responsible for preparing and implementing the Agency’s F2P Framework
and the annual F2P plans. The plans will be discussed and validated by ERCEA
Management and the Scientific Council.

➢ The sector coordinates the in-depth ex-ante analysis of what ERC has funded, led by the
ERC Scientific Council Working Group on Mapping frontier research (currently
“Science Behind the Projects or SBP”), this being one of the main tools for in-house
portfolio analysis already deployed since FP7, and identifies relevant uses for F2P
activities. As such, the sector will support directly the corresponding ScC WG.

16
In a first phase, the emphasis could be on the R&I family mainly.

5
The sector works in close collaboration with relevant ERCEA units to ensure a smooth flow of
information, exchange of knowledge and the effective collection of most relevant input. In
particular:

➢ A F2P network with representatives of all units in Dept. B and other units in the agency as
suitable.
➢ A group of correspondents from each unit in Dept B for the Mapping frontier research
initiative (former SBP).
➢ Scientific units/officers, for consultation and their scientific input/feedback to/on draft
analysis and reports. The modalities for the involvement of scientific units’ staff in F2P
activities will be determined based on the need for expertise for the activities included in
annual F2P plans. They will be planned ahead and will take into consideration the
workload of the respective staff/units, as well as the interest expressed by scientific
officers.
➢ Ethics officers, Data analysis, Project Follow Up, Scientific Analysis of completed Projects
(SAP), and other teams in the Scientific Department (B), the Unit supporting the Scientific
Council (A1) and the IT Solution and Services Unit (D1) also in view of ensuring the
consistency of the data presented by the ERC on F2P.
➢ The Communication unit (A2) for public communication on the ERC project portfolio and
its results, in support of external communication strategy through the relevant F2P
activities.
➢ The DIR office in relation to briefings requests.

The sector will liaise with ERCEA’s recently established Knowledge Management Steering
Committee and the IT Steering Committee as needed.

The sector will also liaise with the ScC PRIME Committee, via its secretariat, in order to keep
them informed of F2P activities that could be relevant for the objectives of the M&E strategy -with
focus on PRIME work on impacts beyond science.

All relevant F2P activities are described in the Agency’s Annual Activity Report. In addition,
regular updates and good practices will be shared with the Scientific Council and the Steering
Committee for feedback and adjustments as needed.

Coordination at F2P network with representatives of Scientific Department’s Units, A1, A2

Agency level representatives and other units as suitable
Liaison with the KMSC
Liaison with the DIR office for briefing requests addressed to Department B
Liaison with the IT Steering Committee
In the Scientific Activity group on Mapping Frontier Research with representatives from scientific each
Department unit and B2
Scientific Units/scientific officers, project follow-up team (PFU), data analysis and
SAP teams, ethics officers
Project Follow Up Steering Committee
Coordination with Working Group on Mapping Frontier Research (former SBP)
the ERC Scientific
Council Working Group PRIME

With an aim to anticipate and prioritise F2P requests from EC services, the sector represents the
ERCEA in relevant groups, including the Horizon Europe F2P network and the Foresight
network. The sector liaises with DG R&I (in particular G6 and 03/SAM), policy DG services, the
JRC, as well as other Executive Agencies to explore collaboration and synergies on joint projects
(see table below).

6
DG Research & RTD.03 Science Policy, Advice and Ethics, responsible for the European Commission
Innovation Science Advice Mechanism (SAM)
RTD.G1 Common R&I Strategy & Foresight Service, coordinating the Foresight
network
RTD.G6 Common knowledge and data management service, responsible for feedback
to policy, knowledge management, the dissemination & exploitation of research results
Feedback to Policy correspondents and Policy officers in the thematic units, as
relevant for the selected activities
Other European Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Commission DGs
Feedback to Policy correspondents and Policy officers in the DGs as relevant for
selected activities
Executive REA and EIC Feedback to policy correspondents and contributors for potential joint
Agencies activities with programmes funding research projects bottom-up
EIC Strategy and Feedback to Policy Unit for activities related to foresight
Feedback to Policy correspondents and contributors in the EAs
Other EU E.g. European Parliament STOA
Institutions

3. F2P PLANS

F2P plans will identify the main thematic areas on a particular year. These areas will be based on
horizon scanning of EU policy needs and be guided by scientific developments, that is, scientific
outputs and results of ERC funded projects that can be relevant for policy makers and other
stakeholders. The criteria for prioritisation and types of outputs included in the plan will follow the
lines of the collaborative framework proposed by DG R&I for Horizon Europe17, and will be
adapted for ERCEA (see below).

The annual plan will remain flexible enough to be able to adapt to changing policy needs and
priorities as well as scientific developments. It will also leave ample space for ad-hoc requests that
the Agency will receive from the parent DG and other stakeholders (and thus for building
capability for portfolio analyses to readily produce inputs to briefings and other requests as needed
in a short notice).

For each thematic area, the annual plan will describe the timeline and the format, content and scope
of the range of outputs/activities to be carried out. In particular, for the first activities to be rolled
out, a data needs assessment will be done.

ERCEA Management and Scientific Council will be consulted on the annual plans in Q4 of the
prior year. Specifically for the 2023 plan, a first brainstorming session will be carried out with the
ScC WG on Mapping frontier research and then with the ScC at its December Plenary when the
F2P framework will be first presented. The detailed plan for 2023 will then be shared for
consultation within the Scientific Department and with ERCEA management in Q1 of 2023.

3.1. Criteria for prioritisation in F2P and proposed areas of activity

The thematic areas for the annual plans will be identified and selected in consultation with ERCEA
Units involved in F2P, in particular with the cross-agency group, with a view to align the F2P

17
http://collab.rtd.cec.eu.int/activities/feedback-to-
policy/Shared%20Documents/List%20of%20Policy%20Inputs%20and%20Definitions.pdf

7
activities with main policy priorities and scientific developments/breakthroughs, as already
mentioned above. The plan will propose activities considering the following:

1. Relevance of the output to EU policy objectives and priorities including Commission

priorities and initiatives, Commission work programmes, HE Missions, HE Clusters.

2. Relevance of the output with regard to bringing visibility to the importance of funding
curiosity-driven, frontier research.

3. Interest for strategic programming and development, e.g. regarding emerging trends and
thematic foresight relevant for programming and mapping.

4. Opportunities for knowledge-sharing and communication with ERC stakeholders, e.g.

via factsheets, reports, participation in scientific and policy events, contribution to relevant
success stories and communication material.

5. Room for ad-hoc requests, e.g. inputs for briefings and communication activities,
information on projects funded in specific fields or specific countries/
regions/organisations.

6. Assessment of workload that the proposed activities will entail across the ERCEA.

3.2. Types of outputs

F2P outputs may be delivered in the following ways:

• Analysis and support, e.g. project portfolios and clusters to answer specific
requests/policy needs; factsheets showcasing results from ERC funded research addressing
policy priorities; foresight and horizon scanning.

• Report and communication, e.g. ad-hoc and planned project portfolio reports at a
clustered level; science stories at project and portfolio level; thematic foresight reports;
contribution to parent DGs’ communication activities.

• Meetings and events, e.g. workshop/stakeholder events; policy-related thematic events

organised in collaboration with other European bodies; cluster meetings; policy-oriented
conferences.

3.3. Thematic foresight

By its own bottom-up nature, ERC-funded frontier research sets out a unique landscape of
emerging science and technology, that is, the best and novel ideas pursued by scientists and not
framed a priori by policy priorities. Moreover, the type of original research funded by ERC that can
bring about new and unpredictable discoveries fits into the very definition of emerging science and
technology, that is, highly uncertain but potentially highly impactful.

For policy makers it can be a unique outlook on the most promising fields of scientific research,
technological development and innovation across all areas. Within the Commission, such
anticipatory insights are at the core of Strategic Foresight18 as a tool for policy making. It is used
for impact assessments, major evaluations and fitness checks as part of the Better Regulation

18
https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/strategic-planning/strategic-foresight_en

8
toolbox. Plus, the annual Strategic Foresight Reports19 inform Work Programmes and multi-annual
programming exercises. Overall, the use of foresight is seen to enable robust future-proofing and
design of better informed programmes, funding calls, and other initiatives.

The purpose to develop thematic foresight at ERCEA is to scan for signals and trends in science,
technology, and innovation that are also relevant for EU policy priorities. At the same time,
such forward-looking analyses are complementary to other analyses and sources of information,
that is, they will build upon ERC’s knowledge coming from impact assessments and portfolio
analysis.

Structured insights on emerging/breakthrough trends in ERC funded research, according to specific

policy priorities, research topics and/or technology domains, will be provided when feasible and
relevant for policy makers (with focus on EU policy priorities and work on defining future ones) or
for ERCEA and EC programming and strategic activities.

The anticipation and monitoring of emerging futures will be based on quantitative and qualitative
foresight analyses, studies and data collection, including for instance:

• Desk research on thematic foresight (e.g. on specific areas such as Artificial Intelligence),
scenario analysis (e.g. scenarios on future of Europe), on as well as science, technology
and innovation foresight and new developments in future-oriented technology assessment.

• Gathering of relevant data on ERC-funded research and its impact, namely coming from
activities in the remit of PRIME, SAP, thematic studies, and SBP/portfolio analysis, while
building synergies with such activities.

• Data mining and analytics to identify and monitor emerging trends and weak signals in
specific research topics/domains, through keyword/term searches and weak signal
detection in ERC and EC datasets and tools;

• Horizon scanning focused on “deep dives” and advanced R&I trends around specific topics
or policy priorities (e.g. EU Missions, EU Chips Act, Green Deal, Artificial
Intelligence/cybersecurity,...), based on desk research, surveys and participatory
workshops.

• Scientific officers, Ethics officers and/or independent expert assessment focused on

exploring, refining or validating information and insights from activities described above.

Activities in thematic foresight will be developed in consultation with the ScC, and collaboration
with A1, A2, Scientific Units, PIs, external experts, Foresight Service in DG R&I and the JRC
Competence Centre on Foresight, and other Agencies, namely bottom-up programmes, and in
liaison with the Strategic Foresight work led by EC Vice-President Šefčovič.

In June 2021, in the context of collaboration and synergy among bottom-up programs in the context
of F2P, it was agreed to further collaborate with EIC Strategy and Feedback to Policy Unit on
activities related to strategic intelligence, foresight, horizon scanning and other future-oriented
exercises, including horizon scanning activities as described above and potential joint outputs on
frontier research and deep tech.

19
For 2022 Strategic Foresight Report “Twinning the green and digital transitions in the new geopolitical
context”, https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_22_4004

9
4. PROPOSED 2023 PLAN

For 2023 the following broad areas of possible activity are proposed, following exploratory
discussions with relevant stakeholders. Based on further prioritisation via cross-agency
consultation, pilot activities will be selected. The areas are organised along three lines:

• Requests by the ERC Scientific Council:

Valorisation of the data collected for the H2020 Mapping, building on- and expanding
the available portfolios of projects contributing to the EU Green Deal, EU4Health, and the
Digital Agenda.

• Requests from DG R&I linking with known policy priorities to which we need to
contribute regularly or on an ad-hoc basis:

o Portfolio analyses related to the five EU missions; as expected for all Executive
Agencies and in collaboration with already ongoing initiatives, namely:

▪ Adaptation to Climate Change mission that aims to support at least 150

European regions and communities to become climate resilient by 2030
(specific request from DG RTD B3).
▪ Cancer: working with Europe's Beating Cancer Plan to improve the lives
of more than 3 million people by 2030 through prevention, cure and
solutions to live longer and better (specific request from the DG R&I unit
dealing with SAM).
▪ Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030.
▪ 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030.
▪ A Soil Deal for Europe: 100 living labs and lighthouses to lead the
transition towards healthy soils by 2030.

o A portfolio analysis related to sustainable food consumption (formal request by

DG R&I Unit dealing with SAM).

• Anticipatory/own initiatives linked to scientific and policy developments:

o Artificial Intelligence (focus to be further refined, based on work previously

undertaken by ERCEA and participation of colleagues to the relevant ‘matrix’ and
in relation to the AI regulation).

o Democracy (focus to be further refined – building on already available work at

ERCEA and in anticipation of the upcoming Defence of Democracy Package).

• Thematic foresight with EIC (bottom-up; focus to be further defined)

The format and precise timing for the outputs will be determined in Q1 2023 after consultation
with all relevant stakeholders and depending on the resources and feasibility for the sector and all
agency colleagues to be involved. The sector will start with pilots to establish methodological
approaches and internal working modalities. Lessons learned will be drawn and the plan and
activities will be adjusted to take them and any other relevant policy developments into account.
The plan will allow sufficient time to manage ad-hoc requests as needed.

Synergies between requests/activities will be exploited to limit workload (e.g. between the update
of the climate and soil portfolio and the request on sustainable consumption). An indicative table of
activities is provided below.

For reference, and as an indication of the type and volume of ad-hoc requests handled, examples of
what has already been delivered in 2022 are provided in Annex 1.

10
Category Output Timing ERCEA Units User/target audience

Contribution to Thematic TBD in 2023 B0, with DG R&I/SAM

policy objectives portfolio scientific and
and priorities analysis on other units as
sustainable food suitable
consumption

Thematic TBD in 2023 B0, with B3 DG R&I/Health/SAM/Mission

portfolio and other units Board
analysis on as suitable, in
Cancer collaboration
with A2 for the
dissemination

Thematic Q2-Q3 2023 B0, with DG R&I and Mission Boards

portfolio (to be scientific and
analyses for EU updated other units as
missions annually if suitable and in
needed) and collaboration
on demand with RTD G6

Thematic TBD, likely Collaboration DG R&I (potentially DG

portfolio Q3-4 2023 between B0, CONNECT)
analysis on AI B4 and other
units as
suitable in
collaboration
with A2 for the
dissemination

Thematic TBD – likely B0, B5 and DG R&I/ D4: Democracy and

portfolio Q2 as this other units as European Values
analysis on would be suitable in
Democracy aligned with collaboration
the Defence with A2 for the
of dissemination
Democracy
package

Valorisation of TBD – to be B0 with input DG R&I and other policy DGs

H2020 Mapping discussed from scientific
with units as
SBP/Mapping suitable, in
ScC WG on 6 collaboration
December with A2 for the
dissemination

Inputs for Thematic On demand B0 with input DG R&I/G1: Common R&I

strategic foresight report but also in from scientific Strategy and Foresight
programming and line with and other units
development actions as suitable
already
agreed with
other bottom-
up programs,
e.g.
EIC/EISMEA

Knowledge Input to events On demand B0 with Policy makers, relevant

sharing and and conferences, and in line scientific and stakeholders, scientific

11
communication e.g. STOA- with agreed other units as community
ERCEA joint events suitable,
event, policy namely A2
relevant
conferences

Ad-hoc requests Input for On demand B0 and DG R&I

Horizon Europe scientific units
clusters or other as suitable
specific policy
initiatives

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ANNEXES

Annex 1: 2022 F2P activities – Some examples

Category Output Timing ERCEA Units Policy user/target audience

Contribution to H2020 Mapping July 2022 SBP/Mapping DG R&I and other policy DGs
policy objectives ERC Frontier team with
and priorities Research input from B0,
including panel in
factsheets and 3 collaboration
policy factsheets with A2 for the
dissemination

ERC factsheet November B0, B1, B3, DG R&I and other policy DGs,
on Citizen 2022 B4, B5 and A2 ERC list of subscribers,
Science (in the stakeholders, scientific
context of ERC community
annual event)

Knowledge ERC Magazine July 2022 A2 with SBP ERC list of subscribers,
sharing and issue on team input stakeholders, scientific
communication Mapping ERC community
frontier research,
including 3
policy factsheets

ERC Magazine December A2 with inputs ERC list of subscribers,

issue on Citizen 2022 from B0 stakeholders, scientific
Science community

Meetings with May 2022 B0 ERCEA, EISMEA, REA,

other bottom-up (follow up to EACEA
programs to first meeting
discuss held in
synergies and October
possible 2021)
collaboration, at
the initiative of
B0

Slide deck to October 2022 Joint A2-B0 ERC and ERCEA scientific
present H2020 product officers and staff members
Mapping ERC
frontier research,
overview and by
panel

Data input for a November B0 input for ERC stakeholders, scientific

series of ERC 2022 A2 posts community
social media
posts around
COP27

Ad-hoc requests Input on ERC September B3 German Stem cell network

projects using 2022 (GSCN)
stem cell
research

13
Input on projects September B0 and B3 DG R&I workshop organisers
working on 2022
broad-spectrum
anti-virals

Input on animal October 2022 B3 ERC President

rights in research

Two October 2022 B0 and B4 DG R&I

presentations at
workshop on AI
use in research

Briefing request October 2022 B0 and B3 Commissioner Gabriel cabinet

for Commission (BASIS CAB Gabriel 2762)
Gabriel on ERC
cancer research
(and innovation)

Input for round November B0 ERC Scientific Council member

table discussion 2022
under the frame
of the
International
Year of Basic
Sciences for
Sustainable
Development

Proposals for November B0 and B3, B4, ERC President office

speakers for the 2022 B5
WEF

14
Annex 2: ERCEA F2P network

Unit Representative

ERCEA.A1 Alexis-Michel Mugabushaka

ERCEA.A2 Inge Ruigrok

ERCEA.B1 Remo Savoia

ERCEA.B2 Zdravka Fournadjieva

ERCEA.B3 Carmen Garcia Fernandez

ERCEA.B4 Telma Carvalho

ERCEA.B5 Alice Rajewsky

Annex 3: ERCEA Mapping Frontier Research Activity group

Unit Representatives

ERCEA.B2 Carlos Galvez, back up Rafael Carrasco Jimenez

ERCEA.B3 Veronica Caraffini, Nadia El Mjiyad

ERCEA.B4 German Rodrigo Garcia, Jana Segmehl, Telma Carvalho

ERCEA.B5 Maria Pilar Lacruz and Mara Donato Di Paola

15