The ERA-NET Learning Platform was established in 2008 in order to support participants in ERA-NETs and provide them with a platform for mutual learning. At the Annual ERA-NET Event held on 31 March – 1 April 2009, the aim was to bring new and old stakeholders together to keep them abreast of the latest policy thinking, to review progress in terms of the development of the platform, and to elicit their views on future activities. More specifically, the event reviewed the progress of the NETWATCH Information, Analysis and Learning Platform and the ERA-LEARN project; sought feedback likely to influence their continued development; presented a number of examples of how different ERA-NETs had developed in order that others might benefit from these experiences; and organised one policy round table and four workshops in order to facilitate mutual learning and elicit suggestions for further developments. The interest in ERA-NETs generated during the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) and continued during FP7 does not look set to wane. Programme owners and managers across the EU continue to show interest in the formation of new ERA-NETs, and many established ERA-NETs are contemplating a range of future development paths. For some this will involve the continued, independent existence of networks launching Joint Calls even after the formal end of Commission contracts, while others might coalesce to form new, expanded ERA-NETs in broad, thematic areas, each one launching a variety of new joint calls in domains prioritised via common strategy formulation processes. Yet another alternative would be for cooperation over Joint Calls to evolve into stable initiatives, perhaps via a progression from ERA-NETs to ERA-NET Plus initiatives and on to full Article 169 Initiatives. There is even the possibility that the ERA-NET scheme itself could metamorphose from a contract-driven Commission support mechanism – necessitating the signing of separate contracts with the participants in ERA-NETs – into a regulatory framework allowing participants in ERANETs much greater flexibility in terms of determining their own activities, with the Commission’s role shifting much more towards the provision of helpful material such as good practice guidelines and information support services. Examples of just some of these alternative development paths were presented and discussed at the event. One message to emerge of relevance to the stakeholder community at large was that many alternative development paths are possible, with no one model superior to another in all situations. So much is contextual, and the wise path to take is to consider the relative merits of different options before committing to any one path.
There was also widespread support for more flexible relationships with the Commission, possibly via a shift towards the development of a regulatory framework capable of reinforcing stakeholder ownership and control over both strategic direction and modes of implementation – but with a continued role for the Commission in terms of the provision of advice, the development of procedural guidelines, the maintenance of mutual learning mechanisms etc.
Concerning the development of the NETWATCH Information, Analysis and Learning Platform, designed to support ERA-NET stakeholders via the provision of up-to-date information on ERA-NETs across the EU, participants at the event seemed generally satisfied with progress to date, particularly with many of the features of the prototype demonstrated at the event. They also offered many useful suggestions concerning coverage and additional features that will help the NETWATCH team considerably as it moves into full implementation of the system. It was also particularly gratifying to note the degree to which participants at the event recognised the strategic value of up-todate information on ERA-NET developments across the EU and their willingness to contribute information to the system. Of necessity, ERA-NET stakeholders constitute the most important sources of data on their own ERA-NETs, and their willingness to contribute these data to NETWATCH and share them with other stakeholders is thus crucial to the success of the NETWATCH initiative.
Satisfaction with developments within the ERA-LEARN project was also palpable, particularly with the design of a Call Calendar that will be implemented via NETWATCH. Participants offered a range of useful suggestions concerning its eventual shape and functionality, as well as commenting on other items scheduled for development within the scope of the project. These include plans for the development of a checklist for call planning; a manual to help new stakeholders to set up new calls; and a toolbox to help promote new calls. Advice concerning the monitoring and evaluation of ERA-NET activities will also be developed. To date, ERA-NET stakeholders have paid little attention to these topics, but another of the main messages to emerge from the event concerned the growing need for this situation to be rectified.
The degree of satisfaction with progress made to date with NETWATCH, ERA-LEARN, the ERA-NET Learning Platform and even ERA-NET developments generally should not induce complacency, however. Whilst there is scope for some degree of congratulation, it also became obvious during the event that, although the audience’s appetite had been whetted, its hunger for more was growing apace. The ERA-NET Learning Platform has taken important first steps in the twelve months since the launch event, but even greater strides will be needed over the next year. By the time of the next event, for example, stakeholders will want to have made extensive use of NETWATCH and the tools being produced by ERA-LEARN. This puts a huge onus of responsibility on the shoulders of those involved in the development and implementation of these projects, but expectations have been raised and the challenge now is to satisfy them.
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