On the one hand, InRoad project tries to contribute to a better harmonisation and synchronisation of priority-setting, funding evaluation and life-cycle management of EU Research Infrastructures (RI) at European and national level (regional dimension will be integrated through smart specialisation strategies) by means of:
- The identification and dissemination of best-practices and common trends of national RI roadmapping procedures and of ex-ante, interim (monitoring) and ex-post evaluation of RI in Europe
- The establishment of a trustful dialogue and an intensive exchange of information about national RI roadmapping procedures, RI monitoring and evaluation and sustainable approaches for RI, in line with the objectives laid out in the European Research Area communication
- Fostering a dialogue with the European Commission, ESFRI, the e-IRG and all relevant stakeholders at regional, national and European levels in order to discuss the project findings and promote the dissemination of its recommendations.
On the other hand, InRoad activities are expected to contribute to the specific challenge highlighted in the Horizon 2020 work programme by:
- Promoting comparability and synchronisation of national procedures and a possible harmonisation of ex-ante and expost evaluation mechanisms through a survey, case studies, interviews and theoretical analyses of current frameworks in use, in close cooperation with the relevant stakeholders
- Supporting RI policy development in terms of exchange of best practices for national roadmap drafting and evaluation procedures
- Facilitating the information sharing with stakeholders in charge of priority-setting, evaluation, funding and operation of RI through their inclusion in a dedicated Reflection Group.
Objectives
InRoad project seeks to contribute to a better harmonisation and synchronisation of priority-setting, funding and lifecycle management of Research Infrastructures (RI) through the exchange of best practices among the main stakeholders of EU Member States (MS), Associated Countries (AC) and also at European level. Additionally, the regional dimension will be considered by integrating Smart Specialisation Strategies in the work conducted.
More specifically, InRoad project will aim to:
- Identify and share best-practices and common trends of National RI Roadmapping Procedures (NRIRMP) as well as ex-ante, interim (monitoring) and ex-post evaluation procedures of RIs in Europe, leading towards a better synchronisation and potential harmonisation of those procedures at both EU and country level;
- Support RI policy development in MS, AC and at European level by establishing a trustful and fluid dialogue and an intensive exchange of information on NRIRMP, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and sustainable approaches for RI, in line with the ERA objectives;
- Contribute to the emergence of sustainable approaches for RI by conducting case studies of RI funding models along the whole lifecycle and assessment of best practices of business models for RI;
- Foster a dialogue with the European Commission and all relevant stakeholder organisations in order to validate the project findings and promote the dissemination of its recommendations.