Evaluation of Investments in Research and Technological Development (RTD) Infrastructures and Activities Supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the Period 2007-2013

Reference number: 2018CE16BAT111

Contract number: 2018CE16BAT111

Contract description: Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy DG REGIO launches an ex post evaluation on investment projects in Research and Technological Development (RTD) infrastructures, competence centres and activities financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) during the period 2007-2013. The evaluation will take stock of the different types of interventions in respect of RTD that were co-financed by the ERDF in the 2007-2013 period and assess their rationale and the evidence of their effectiveness. The evaluation will provide an overview of the different ways in which ERDF funding for RTD has been used across the EU and will assess the results insofar as they can be identified. It will examine this in more detail in selected countries and regions, with the aim of identifying the types of intervention that have been most successful (or effective) and the factors contributing to their success. A review of the relevant literature and documents will be undertaken.

The evaluation mainly covers two categories of expenditure not covered by the ex post evaluation of 2007-13. 53 Operational Programmes have been selected to be in the scope of this evaluation. The list of 53 OPs comprises national and regional programmes from Convergence and Regional Competitiveness and Employment objectives across 18 Member States (BE, CZ, DE, EE, ES, FI, FR, HU, IE, IT, LT, LV, PL, PT, RO,
SI, SK, UK). This set of 53 operational programmes includes 24 major projects funded in the categories of interventions under examination.
The contractor will carry out the following tasks:
Task 1: Conceptual framework and review of investments funded in the sector;
Task 2: Literature and documentary review;
Task 3: Case Studies in selected Member States;
Task 4: Cross-case-study theory of change analysis (RTD cookbook);
Task 5: Organisation of a seminar;
Task 6: Final report.

Duration: 18 months