Innovation booster The European Union research and innovation programme Horizon Europe started last year. One of the main differences between Horizon Europe and its predecessor, Horizon 2020, is a new emphasis on making sure that the project stays alive after its end, that knowledge and developments within the project are used, and that a positive impact on European society is achieved. This article explores initial lessons and recommendations from early experiences of Horizon Europe.
Getting ready for Horizon Europe The growing importance of project exploitation New directions for Horizon Europe
• Outcomes: The expected effects, over the medium term,
The exploitation of project results in Horizon 2020 was often
of projects supported under a given topic. The results of a
found to be a tick-box exercise, with little integration from the
project should contribute to these outcomes, supported by the
start and a lack of specialist skills and / or interest. Exploitation
dissemination and exploitation measures. This may include
take a much greater role in Horizon Europe: it now forms part of
the uptake, diffusion, deployment, and / or use of the project’s
the Key Impact Pathways to demonstrate the impact on society.
results by direct target groups. Outcomes generally occur during
The proposal / reporting templates have been updated with
or shortly after the end of the project.
specific references to exploitation – see the impact canvas, for
• Impact: Wider long term effects on society (including the
example – and there is an emphasis on continuous reporting, even
environment), the economy and science. It refers to the specific
after the project’s end. Third-party exploitation is encouraged,
contribution of the project to the work programme expected
and incentives have been introduced for exploitation.
impacts described in the destination. Impacts generally occur some time after the end of the project.
Some definitions Within Horizon Europe, the following terms have been specified to aid common understanding: • Pathway to impact: Logical steps towards the achievement of the expected impacts of the project over time, in particular beyond the duration of a project. A pathway begins with the project’s results, to their dissemination, exploitation and communication, contributing to the expected outcomes in the work programme topic, and ultimately to the wider scientific, economic and societal impacts of the work programme destination. • Results: any tangible or intangible effect of the action, including data, know-how or information, whatever its form or nature, whether or not it can be protected, as well as any rights
Project consortia need to recognize exploitable results and their
attached to it, including intellectual property rights.
stakeholders, and identify the value added from their use. Each
• Key Exploitable results: the outputs generated during the
Horizon Europe beneficiary is expected to use their best efforts
project which can be used and which create impact, either
to exploit the results they own, or to have them exploited by
by the project partners or by other stakeholders. Key results
another legal entity, in particular through the transfer and
can be reusable and exploitable as they are (e.g. inventions,
licensing of results. In this respect, beneficiaries are required to
prototypes, services), or elements (knowledge, technology,
adequately protect their results – if possible and justified – taking
processes, networks) that have the potential to contribute
into account possible prospects for commercial exploitation and
towards further work in research and / or innovation.
any other legitimate interest.
• Exploitation. The use of results in further research and innovation activities, including: • commercial exploitation such as developing, creating, manufacturing and marketing a product or process • creating and providing a service • standardization and policy-making activities 24 HiPEACINFO 65
FURTHER INFORMATION:
horizoneurope.com bit.ly/Horizon_Europe_webinar_210421 bit.ly/Horizon_Europe_proposal_webinar_210324 bit.ly/HorizonEurope_webinar_Diss_Expl__210609
