all projects

European Regional Development Fund: Evaluation of RTD-Investments

Client

European Commission, DG REGIO

Year

2021


Research question and objective

What is the impact of research and innovation support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and how can we improve policy instruments in the future? On behalf of DG Regio and in cooperation with the Centre for Industrial Studies (CSIL) and the Technopolis Group, we evaluated investments in Research and Technological Development (RTD) infrastructures and activities supported by the ERDF in the 2007 - 2013 programming period.

Our approach

Inspired by theory-based impact evaluation, and by combining qualitative and quantitative methods, we examined 53 ERDF Operational Programs with RTD investments amounting to EUR 14.64 billion. These four levels of analysis were the basis of the evaluation:

  • Operational Program Level: Evaluation of strategies and policy mixes
  • Country-level: Use of policy instruments in different national contexts
  • Policy Instrument level: Analysis of chains of effects and mechanisms (“Theories of Change”)
  • Project and beneficiary level: Description, analysis and classification of RTD projects in 18 EU-Member States

Key results

The main achievement of ERDF support for RTD investment in the period 2007-2013 is a positive and significant contribution to the observed improvement of R&D capacities in the target regions, particularly in EU13 regions. Evidence shows that ERDF investments aimed at modernising education facilities are positively correlated to the growth rate in the number of tertiary-educated people and the growth rate of tertiary-educated persons employed in science and technology, in 2007-2017 and within the target regions

R&D capacities were further improved in terms of the number of R&D personnel and researchers, with an average growth rate in the target regions of 40 percent between 2007 and 2017. Evidence also points to a positive and statistically significant relationship between ERDF support and the growth rate in the number of scientific publications

More limited, however, was the capacity of funded projects to generate economic benefits from the commercial valorisation of R&D results and enhance the knowledge transfer capacities and mechanisms from scientific to industry partners. No statistically significant relationships are found in the econometric analysis between ERDF support and the growth rate of technological outputs. Moreover, the ERDF was less effective in facilitating the coordination and interactions between all the actors involved in the innovation ecosystem, thus addressing the system failures.

The findings suggest that, given the importance of contextual factors, the right combination of ERDF instruments within a broader system of enabling conditions and supporting factors is necessary to achieve the objective of improving regional competitiveness.

Links and downloads

Final report (ec.europa.eu)

Executive summary (ec.europa.eu)

The RTD Cookbook for ERDF supported investments

Project Team: Jan Kramer, Moritz Glettenberg, Anja Breuer, Neysan Khabirpour

Do you have questions?

Your contact at Prognos

Neysan Khabirpour

Project Manager, Deputy Head of EU-Services

View profile

Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer

Partner, Head of EU Services

View profile

Anja Breuer

Expert

View profile

Our work on this topic

Take a look at our latest projects and activities.

Contribution of the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation to an innovative Europe

2024
| Project

With the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programmes, the EU Commission is promoting research and innovation in Europe. Prognos evaluated parts of the funding programmes in terms of their contribution to an innovative Europe.

Contribution of the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation to a Resilient Europe

2024
| Project

With the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programmes, the EU Commission is promoting research and innovation in Europe. Prognos evaluated parts of the funding programmes in terms of their contribution to a resilient Europe.

Evaluation of the ERDF programmes of several federal states

ongoing
| Project

How effectively do the federal states utilise ERDF funding? Prognos supports various federal states with the evaluation of their ERDF programmes.

European Evaluation Biennial Conference

| Event

Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer and Justyna Kramarczyk talk with other participants about the results of their work on EU-wide ex-post evaluations of cohesion policy support for research and development.

Monitoring and evaluation of the North Rhine-Westphalian innovation strategy (RIS3)

ongoing
| Project

As part of ERDF funding 2021-2027, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia has developed a regional innovation strategy (RIS3). Prognos is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the strategy.

Germany Potential Index: Digitalisation to counter the skilled-worker shortage

2024
| Project

The skilled-worker shortage is only due to get worse in the future. Our Potential Index shows: Increased digitalisation can help to cushion the negative consequences of the skilled-worker shortage in Germany.

Foresight on Demand: Future-oriented expertise for the EU

ongoing
| Project

As part of the Foresight on Demand consultancy contract, the European Commission is provided with future-orientated knowledge. Prognos supports the expert consortium.

Strengthening Europe’s innovation power

ongoing
| Project

Prognos supports the European Commission’s General Commission for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) in the strategic development of EU research and innovation policy.

Federal Report on Research and Innovation 2024

2024
| Project

In the 2024 Federal Research and Innovation Report (BuFi), the Federal Government presents their current research and innovation policy goals and measures. Once again, Prognos assisted the BMBF in the preparation of the report.

Germany: Industry sectors put to the test

2024
| Expertise

Mechanical engineering, the automotive industry, pharmaceuticals: In which sectors is Germany still a leader? On behalf of the Handelsblatt, we examined how successfully Germany is holding its own against its international competitors.

Federal Research and Innovation Report

ongoing
| Project

The Federal Government regularly presents their current research and innovation policy goals and measures in the Federal Research and Innovation Report. Prognos assists the BMBF in the preparation of the report.

Realignment of European structural funds

ongoing
| Project

Prognos and partners are developing conclusions for the further development of the European structural funds after 2027 by integrating relevant stakeholders.

Hybrid seminar on cohesion policy support for RTDI

| Event

Prognos and its partners are organising a hybrid seminar on the evaluation of cohesion policy support for research, technological development and innovation (RTDI).

Training On The Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) & Governance Of Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3)

-
| Event

Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer will be a speaker on the opening panel on "The role of the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) in smart specialisation" and will give input on the positioning of the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process in politics and on EDP-related communication in two further presentations.

Clusters meet Regions: Milan

-
| Event

As part of our work for the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer presents an input paper on the cluster landscape of Lombardy, outlining important considerations for the future development of the region.

Trend Report 2024: Germany on its path to digital administration - an update

2024
| Project

Where does Germany stand on its path to digital administration? The Trendreport 2024 gives an update and recommendations for the digitalisation of the public administration system.

Electromobility standards

2024
| Project

The electromobility of the future will interact with other intelligent systems. But for this to be possible digital technologies will have to be standardised. The study shows in which areas standardisation is particularly relevant and how standards are established.

Innovations in domestic care

ongoing
| Project

A skilled worker shortage and increased numbers of people requiring care: domestic care is facing major challenges. Prognos is evaluates the implementation of the Buurtzorg approach, an innovative community care model, for the Saxon State Ministry for Social Affairs and Social Cohesion.

Green light for the Rhineland-Palatinate Innovation Agency

2023
| Project

The Rhineland-Palatinate Innovation Agency was co-developed by Prognos in 2022. Prognos has continued to support the innovation agency throughout the start of its operational work.

Value added of German pharmaceutical exports

2023
| Project

Compared to other export sectors, German pharmaceutical exports show above-average levels of innovation and value-added intensity. However, the industry is falling behind in the global re-search competition. This is shown by a new study commissioned by Roche.

Dossier: The role of clusters in regional transformation processes

2023
| Project update

The dossier, which was created as part of the NRW.innovativ competence centre, highlights the role that cluster organisations play in the digital and green transformation in NRW.

The potential of smart specialisation strategies

2023
| Project

In collaboration with Prof. Dominique Foray, Prognos compiled a policy brief identifying the potential of smart specialisation strategies for driving forward structural transformation.

Green Tech: Digital technologies and sustainability

ongoing
| Project

The Federal Ministry of Economics promotes digital technologies that drive forward the economy’s green transformation. Together with partners, we are responsible for the accompanying research.

Evaluation of the Eurostars-2 funding programme

ongoing
| Project

Eurostars supports cross-border research cooperation of SMEs in Europe. On behalf of the BMBF, Prognos analyses the effectiveness of the Eurostars-2 programme at national level.

Clusters as boosters of regional development in Skåne

2023
| Project

Clusters can function as a stimulus for innovation in industrial ecosystems. This is shown by a European Union’s European Cluster Collaboration Platform impulse paper that uses the Swedish coastal region of Skåne as a case study.

Purpose Economy model

2023
| Project

Could purpose become the model for business and society? We investigated this as part of our work for the Future Office and compared it with other scenarios.

Evaluation of the federal grants to GTAI

2022
| Project

The aim of Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI) is to promote German foreign trade. Prognos investigated whether they are using their budget effectively.

Evaluation of Eurostars-2, the European SME support programme

2023
| Project

On behalf of the EU Commission, Prognos and its partners examined the Eurostars-2 SME fund-ing programme as part of the evaluation study of the European Framework Programmes Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe.

Accompanying research on the FONA strategy

ongoing
| Project

The Research for Sustainability (FONA) funding programme is intended to contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Will this target be achieved and which methods can be used to measure this? We investigate this together with partners for the BMBF.

Webinar: Monitoring the Transition to Circular Economy

| Event

Jannis Lambert and Tim Bichlmeier talk about monitoring concepts for the Circular Economy and present a self-assessment tool.

International Conference: Smart Specialisation

| Event

Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer takes part in a panel discussion on Intelligent Specialisation Strategies.

European Cluster Conference 2022

| Event

Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer and Lennart Galdiga inform in Prague about the competence centre "NRW.innovativ" and represent the European Cluster Collaboration Platform.

The future of trust in digital worlds

2022
| Project

The internet is creating new forms of interaction that, in order to function, require our trust. Do we put our trust in technology or people? A BMBF Future Office study provides answers.

Findings from the cluster dialogues: The NRW cluster panorama

2022
| Project update

The NRW Cluster Panorama defines five subject areas in which the greatest potential for the innovation ecosystem in NRW lies.

Triple Helix Conference

| Event

Dr. Jan-Philipp Kramer presents the study "Prioritisation in Smart Specialisation Strategies in the EU" at the 20th Triple Helix Conference.

Accompanying the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative

ongoing
| Project

The CCRI focuses on the implementation of a circular economy in European cities and regions. Prognos is supporting the initiative as a project partner in the associated Coordination and Support Office.

Shifting the boundaries of technology and biology

2022
| Project

Artificial organs or humanoid robots? The BMBF Future Office investigated how the combination of biological and technological systems could develop in the future.

Saarland StrategyPlus 2021-2023

2022
| Project

On behalf of the Saarland State Chancellery, we have assisted with the update of the Saarland innovation strategy and have prepared the strategy paper, “StrategyPlus 2021–2023".

Artificial intelligence potential for SMEs in Rhineland-Palatinate

2022
| Project

The challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence for companies in Rhineland-Palatinate. A study commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Cluster Initiatives Follow-up

2021
| Project

For the European Commission, we evaluated the impact of the EU cluster initiatives

The NRW.innovativ competence centre

ongoing
| Project

The industrial transformation of North Rhine-Westphalia will require innovative measures. The Ministry of Economic Affairs commissioned Prognos and partners to set up an innovation competence centre.

Evaluation of the “Photonics Research Germany” programme

2021
| Project

Photonics is considered a key technology. The programme promotes research in this area and facilitates stakeholder networking. We evaluated the programme on behalf of the BMBF.

Smart specialisation

2021
| Project

On behalf of the European Commission, Prognos and partners analysed all the smart specialisation strategies across the EU. The aim was to determine whether the priorities are set wisely.

Digital State trend report

ongoing
| Project

Since 2016, Prognos’ management consulting team has been helping compile the Digital State trend report in cooperation with Behörden Spiegel. Each year the report is devoted to another forward-looking trend topic for public administration.

How effective are EU support programs for innovation in SMEs?

2021
| Project

The EU offers a wide range of innovation support for SMEs. Together with partners, Prognos investigated the extent to which the EU funding programs achieve their goals.

Evaluation of the cluster initiatives

2021
| Project

For the EU Commission, we evaluate the EU cluster programmes together with CSES and IDEA Consulting Group.

Study on smart specialisation in Germany

2020
| Project

Prognos determined the current implementation status of the Regional Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3) in Germany for the EU Commission.

Funding for Research Development and Innovation

2020
| Project

State financial aid for R&D investments increased between 2014 and 2018. The evaluation investigates a connection with the simplification of the state aid regulations.

Evaluation of the BMBF Framework Programmes FONA

2020
| Project

Together with Fraunhofer ISI, Prognos has evaluated the framework programs for the promotion of research into sustainable development (FONA).

Gradual increase of the R&D R&D ratio up to 3.5% of GDP

2019
| Project

On behalf of the BMBF, Prognos calculated, among other things, the macroeconomic effects of higher spending on research and development.

About us

Prognos – Providing Orientation.

Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound.

Learn more