Section: Research Policy & Development

ZSI evaluated the "Beyond Europe" program of the Austrian Federal Ministry "Bundesministerium für Digitalisierung und Wirtschaftsstandort" (BMDW), which is being implemented by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). The programme is unique in the Austrian funding landscape with its specific orientation: it supports research and innovation cooperation between Austrian companies and non-European partners, is thematically and geographically open, with reference to the list of priorities of the recommendations on the Beyond Europe strategy for the target countries.

So far, there have been two calls (2015 and 2017) and in total, 30 projects were funded. Already in the conception of the "Beyond Europe" program a first interim evaluation was planned after two years. The evaluation results feed into the future programming and tendering process and aims to sharpen the program goals and adaptations of the program according to the target group needs. Last but not least, the evaluation proposes success and impact indicators.

The Center for Social Innovation has been entrusted with the implementation of the interim evaluation using a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods: desk research, analysis of program statistics, online survey, individual and group interviews, focus groups, statistical comparision with similar programs, telephone interviews with program-owners from other European countries, triangulation and reflection workshop.

You can download the report below, it discusses the logic and design of the program, analysis of key data on program participation, feedback from the program participants, discussing the added value of the program on the basis of survey and focus group data and provide suggestions for possible adaptations in program design. Furthermore, we provide recommendations for defining effect indicators and present the results of the international comparison with similarly oriented program interventions in other European countries.

DOI: 10.22163/fteval.2019.311

Authors: Dall, E., Degelsegger-Márquez, A., Lampert, D., Schuch, K., Sturn, D.

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Related Articles:

• Project: Evaluierung des 'Beyond Europe' Programms

Tags: Austria, evaluation, international cooperation, internationalisation, research cooperation, research policy