The Analysis of NETWATCH Data
Contents:
Scope of Analysis
The scope of the current analysis spans those FP7 ERA-NET and ERA-NET PLUS actions underway in December 2009 (when the current data collection exercise was finalised), plus ERA-NETs launched under FP6 and scheduled to run until at least the end of 2010.
The data presented here thus cover 47 active ERA-NETs. These comprise 32 FP7 ERA-NETs; 8 ERA-NET PLUS actions; and the 7 FP6 ERA-NETs that will still be running at the end of 2010. On occasion, to facilitate comparisons across Framework Programmes, the data for active ERA-NETs and ERA-NET PLUS initiatives in FP7 are compared with the data available on the full set of ERA-NETs in FP7 (71 in all).
Data Collection Process
The data currently contained within the NETWATCH database were collected via an on-line questionnaire hosted on the NETWATCH information platform. The main aim of the data collection process was to gather the information needed to characterise, map and analyse existing ERA-NETs and their joint activities.
This data collection exercise was carried out by JRC-IPTS between October and December 2009. The coordinators of all ERA-NETs active at that time were notified of the existence of the questionnaire and asked to complete it as best they could. This process was complemented by telephone interviews in order to guide the respondents through the questionnaire.
Similar data collection exercises are envisaged every six months in order to monitor the development of ERA-NETs over time. Eventually, the aim is to collect information rich enough to help ERA-NET stakeholders to assess and benchmark the progress and performance of ERA-NETs across the EU. In time, the analytical framework developed for this purpose could also be used to monitor and assess other forms of transnational collaboration between national funding bodies and programme administrators.
Overview
Almost 50% of the ERA-NET and ERA-NET PLUS actions launched under FP7 are continuations of previous FP6 ERA-NETs (all the ERA-NET PLUS actions and 11 of the 32 active FP7 ERA-NETs). This reflects the importance of the scheme as a means of fostering collaboration between programme managers and owners across Europe. It also demonstrates the persistence of collaboration patterns since most of the ERA-NET continuations contain the same (or very similar) partners in the same or related fields.
ERA-NETs can be focused on a particular scientific or technological domain, an industry sector, a policy area, or a regional area. The majority have a unique focus, though others have two or even three foci (e.g. iMERA PLUS has a scientific focus, an industry sector focus and a policy focus). Approximately 42% of the ERA-NETs are focused on a specific scientific and technical domain (such as nanotechnology or chemistry); almost 30% focus on a specific policy area (e.g. water or climate change); 21% focus on an industry sector (such as transport or food production); while 21% focus on a particular supra-national region (e.g. the Mediterranean Region or the Balkans).
As Figure 1 shows, most respondents consider that strategic objectives similar to those for the ERA-NET scheme as a whole are ´important’ or ´very important’ for their own ERA-NETs. A prime objective is the implementation of joint calls, which was identified as ´very important’ for around 77% of the respondents. Another is the exchange of information and good practices, which was said to be ‘very important’ for almost 60% of the ERA-NETs.
Interestingly, objectives associated with longer-term horizons were also important for significant numbers of respondents. Thirty percent of ERA-NET coordinators, for example, stated that the implementation of joint research programmes was ‘very important’, with an equivalent proportion stating that it was an ‘important’ objective.
Figure 1. The Strategic Objectives of ERA-NETs and their Relative Importance |
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* The original four-step process laid out at the beginning of the ERA-NET involved the following objectives:
- The systematic exchange of information and good practices on existing programmes and activities
- The identification and analysis of common strategic issues
- The planning and development of joint activities between national and regional programmes
- The implementation of joint trans-national activities, including joint calls and programmes.
Spatial and Geographical Dimensions
A total of 51 countries are participating in the 47 currently active ERA-NETs, with an average of 13.2 countries per ERA-NET. From the distribution shown in Figure 2 it can be seen that the smallest number of countries involved in an active ERA-NET is 5, while the largest number is 22.
Comparing across Framework Programmes, i.e. comparing the data for the FP7 ERA-NET and ERA-NET PLUS initiatives with the full set of FP6 ERA-NETs for which data are available (66 out of the 71 that were launched under FP6), it can be seen that the average number of countries participating in ERA-NET initiatives has increased with the passage of time. In FP6, the average number of countries involved per ERA-NET was 12.0, whereas it is 13.6 for FP7 ERA-NETs and 12.5 for FP7 ERA-NET PLUS initiatives.
Figure 2. The Number of ERA-NETs involving Different Numbers of Countries |
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In terms of the involvement of individual Member States, Figure 3 reveals that all 27 have participated in both FP6 and FP7 ERA-NETs, and that only Cyprus, Hungary, Lithuania and Malta have not yet participated in the ERA-NET PLUS scheme.
Figure 3. The Proportion of ERA-NETs in which Individual Member States are Involved |
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Looking across all Member States, it is possible to identify a number of different country clusters:
- A group of four large countries (France, Germany, Spain and UK), all of which have participated extensively, with France and Germany clearly leading the pack;
- A group of smaller countries that has also participated extensively, though not to quite the same extent (Austria, Finland, The Netherlands and Belgium). Despite its size, Italy can also be considered as a member of this group;
- A diverse group of countries with significant though less extensive participation track records. This group includes, amongst others, countries such as Sweden, Poland, Greece, Romania, Ireland and Hungary;
- Finally, the new Member States, with more modest levels of participation. Here Slovenia, Slovakia and Bulgaria have been the most active members of the group.
Comparing also between FP6 and FP7, and grouping FP7 ERA-NETs with FP7 ERA-NET PLUS initiatives, it is possible to identify two other clusters:
- One group, composed of The Netherlands, Germany, UK, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Bulgaria, where the proportion of ERA-NET initiatives in which they are involved has dropped;
- And another group where it has risen, modestly for most members of the group, but extensively for Greece, Hungary and Romania.
With the sole exception of Lichtenstein, all the Associated Countries involved in the Framework Programme (FP) participate in the ERA-NET and ERA-NET PLUS schemes, with significant participation by Norway, Israel, Switzerland and Turkey (see Figure 4). Of these, Norway is the only country that has witnessed a drop in participation levels with the transition from FP6 to FP7.
Figure 4. The Proportion of ERA-NETs in which Associated Countries are Involved |
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A significant number of Third Countries also participate in currently active ERA-NET initiatives, mainly in the ERA-NETs launched under FP7 and the ERA-NET PLUS actions (see Figure 5). However, overall participation levels are still low (ranging from China’s involvement in just one FP6 ERA-NET to Moldova’s involvement in two FP7 ERA-NETs.
Figure 5. The Proportion of ERA-NETs in which Third Countries are Involved |
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Figure 6 reveals that the coordinators of all FP7 ERA-NETs and ERA-NET PLUS actions originate from only 11 countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Romania and UK ).
- Germany and France are clearly the most active countries, hosting the coordinating institutions of 28% and 38% of all the active FP7 ERA-NETs and ERA-NET PLUS actions respectively;
- The UK, despite the fact that it participates in a significant number of networks, only coordinates 6% of all FP7 ERA-NETs and none of the ERA-NET PLUS initiatives in which the country participates;
- Even though Spain participates in 75% of the FP7 ERA-NETs and in 50% of the ERA-NET PLUS actions, the country does not coordinate any of these initiatives;
- In FP7, Finland has chosen to coordinate a significant number of ERA-NET PLUS initiatives (38% of the total number of ERA-NET PLUS actions, and three out of the six in which the country is involved);
- Given their size, Austria (which coordinates 6% of the FP7 ERA-NETs and 13% of the ERA-NET PLUS actions) and The Netherlands (which coordinates 13% of the active FP7 ERA-NETs) both coordinate an appreciable number of initiatives;
- Belgium, Denmark and Greece coordinate one ERA-NET each, while Romania is the only new Member State to coordinate an ERA-NET.
Figure 6. The Proportion of ERA-NETs Coordinated by Different Member States |
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