1. Working Together and Creating Complementarities: Horizon 2020 – European Structural and Investment Funds
Committee of the Regions, 20 February 2018
Katja Reppel
Deputy Head of Unit
CC Smart and Sustainable Growth
DG Regional and Urban Policy

2. Outline
State of play with synergies & complementarities between ESIF and H2020
New opportunities until 2020
Outlook into post-2020 MFF

3. 1. State of play with synergies & complementarities (1)
Regulatory possibilities start getting used
Alignment of ESIF funding opportunities to H2020 formats (Seal of Excellence for SME Instrument, Marie S. Curie, CleanSky2 labels, etc.) … within State Aid limits …
Adoption of good H2020 practices (international evaluators, alignment to H2020 application questions & language, etc.)
More cases of sequential combination of H2020 and ESIF (ERDF research infrastructures used for H2020 projects, preferential project selection for take-up of FP results in ERDF)
First cases of cumulation in the same project (ECSEL JU & Italian competitiveness OP, financial instruments for ESS)
First cases of ERDF funding outside OP area (ESS in kind contribution)

4. 1. State of play with synergies & complementarities (2)
Smart Specialisation Strategies prepared the ground
For more university-enterprise cooperation, better innovation governance and improved R&I support in the countries & regions (Stairway2Excellence, S3 support for lagging regions, Teaming/Twinning, ERA chairs, etc.)
For interregional teaming up around related S3 priorities (Vanguard Initiative, thematic platforms, interregional S3 partnerships, MoU of Joint Undertakings, regional innovation scheme of the EIT-KICs) and preparing for transnational H2020 projects
For a more comprehensive innovation approach (digitisation, industrial transition, skills, structural reforms)
Mapping of capacities (DIHs, KETs …)

5. S3 Pilot for interregional investment projects (1)
S3 + Regions
Learn
Connect
Demonstrate
Commercialise
Scale-up
The focus of the pilots will be on the last phases of project investment, from demonstration to scale-up.
Following call for expression of interest:
8 pilots selected: 3D Printing ,Bio-economy, Cybersecurity, manufacturing for circular economy, High-tech farming, Marine renewable energy, Sustainable buildings, Traceability and big data

6. S3 Pilot for interregional investment projects (2) Experimenting with Support mechanisms
Thematic expertise from a dedicated team of Commission services (links to EIT-KICs, cluster initiatives, Joint Undertakings, PPPs ….)
Overall coordination of the implementation of the 8 partnerships (external experts)
Customised support services on specific needs (internal/external to Commission services)
business plan design
financial modelling
intellectual property rights
standardisation
market research
etc.
Capitalisation exercise (external experts)

7. 2. New opportunities until 2020
Omnibus Regulation modifies ESIF rules
More use of Simplified Cost Options (SCO) (No upper limit for lump sums; sompulsory use of SCO for ERDF and ESF below EUR , new SCOs)
Additional option for cumulating funds from different EU sources (pro rata of declared expenditure & document setting out the conditions of support)
Simplification for R&I expenditure outside the country (no calcuation of benefit, no agreement of monitoring committee)

8. 3. Outlook into post-2020 MFF
Innovation Divide: Need to boost innovation and industrial transition in ALL EU regions
Overcome EU research & innovation paradox: take-up of R&D results
Single/common rule book
Allocations linked to EU challenges and priorities
Simplification of management and control system
Better synergies/demarcations with other EU instruments
Draw lessons from S3 pilots