1. European Foundations Supporting Research and Innovation:
ISTR Stockholm 2016
Philanthropy to support R&I
European Foundations Supporting Research and Innovation:
Facts, Feelings and Fantasies
Results of the EUFORI Study
René Bekkers & Barbara Gouwenberg
Center for Philanthropic Studies
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
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2. 1 synthesis report & 29 country reports
Philanthropy to support R&I

3. Purpose EUFORI Study EUFORI Study Philanthropy to support R&I
“To quantify and assess foundations’ financial support and policies for research and innovation in the EU, make a comparative analysis between EU27 Member States (and Norway and Switzerland), and identify trends and the potential for future developments in this sector”.

4. Main conclusions Philanthropy to support R&I1
A considerable amount of research money: 5 billion Euros
A skewed landscape of foundations
A young and growing sector
A fragmented landscape of foundations
Variations in terms of R&I activity between countries in Europe

5. Strengths: foundation level
Raising the public’s interest and disseminating research
Support niches; underdeveloped areas
Foundations as innovators
Sustainability and flexibility

6. Weaknesses: foundation level
Financial dependence of many (small) foundations
Lack of professional foundation governance
Lack of research identity, dialogue and visibility

7. Country differences in R&I foundation activity
Philanthropy to support R&I
Country differences in R&I foundation activity

8. Foundations’ R&I Expenditure
Total R&I expenditure: EUR million
N=991

9. Philanthropy to support R&I

10. Philanthropy to support R&I

11. Philanthropy to support R&I

12. Philanthropy to support R&I
Correlations
% Grant making
Endowed
R&I expenditure
.54
.65
Grant making
.75
In countries with higher levels of spending on R&I by foundations, foundations are more often grant making (rather than operating), and receive income from an endowment.

13. Philanthropy to support R&I

14. Philanthropy to support R&I

15. How to increase the potential of R&I Foundations in Europe?
Philanthropy to support R&I
Recommendations EUFORI Study: 1
Increase visibility of foundations 2
Explore synergies of collaboration 3
Create financially resilient foundations 4
Improve fiscal and legal system

16. Philanthropy to support R&I
Next steps?

23. High-level expert group on philanthropy and social investments
Next policy steps?
High-level expert group
on philanthropy and social investments
HORIZON Working Program

24. Thank you very much for your attention!
Philanthropy to support R&I
Thank you very much for your attention!
More information
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25. Identification of R&I Foundations
Philanthropy to support R&I

26. Identification of R&I Foundations
Philanthropy to support R&I
R&I Foundations in Europe ?
Potential R&I foundations identified in EUFORI Study
12 941
R&I foundations in EUFORI dataset
1 591
Financial statistics of R&I foundations
approx

27. Philanthropy to support R&I
Main Results

28. A relatively young and growing sector

29. A fragmented landscape of R&I foundations

30. Foundations’ statistics
Income billion Euros (N=1134) Assets billion Euros (N=1052) Expenditure 10 billion Euros (N=1117)

31. 5 billion Euros Expenditure to R&I Research: 4.5 billion Euros N=991
Innovation: 0.5 billion Euros
Lower bound estimate

32. Skewness in R&I expenditure
1% of foundations is responsible
for 47% of R&I expenditure
% of foundations
% of R&I expenditure