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Louise Fresco appointed chairwoman of FP7 evaluation committee
The European Committee has appointed Louise Fresco chairwoman of the committee that will be evaluating the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). This High Level Expert Group will start working in November and complete its evaluation by the end of 2015.
The Expert Group will comprise leading experts in the science and technology on which the FP7 programme is based, together with experts in programme evaluation and programme management. In addition to chairing the Expert Group, Louise Fresco will also determine the group’s approach and be responsible for reporting to the European Competitive Council.
The evaluation will examine the degree to which FP7 has contributed to the overarching goal to make Europe a world leader in research and innovation. They will also examine the broader (economic and social) impact of FP7, particularly its effect on combating ‘Societal Challenges’. Programme management and the effect on European and national policymaking will also be included in the evaluation. The process should result in an evaluation report with lessons for the European Committee for future framework programmes and instruments.
Since 1984 the EU has initiated seven framework programmes to finance scientific and technological research. The 7th Framework Programme was launched in 2007. Its annual budget grew from five to more than eleven billion euros per year from 2007 to 2013. The EU has invested a total of close to 56 billion euros in science and technology in member states within the context of the 7th Framework Programmes. The new framework programme, Horizon 2020, was launched in 2014.