Horizon Europe and the Green Transition. Interim evaluation support study: Final Report ("Phase 2" study)

This report is part of a study combining a back-to-back approach for the ex-post evaluation of Horizon 2020 and the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe, with a thematic focus on Green Transition aspects and the long-term impact of the Framework Programme(s). It constitutes the final report for the second phase of the evaluation study focusing on Horizon Europe.
This evaluation study covers all activities of the European Framework Programmes in the impact area Green Transition, i.e. all related activities in Horizon 2020 (2014-2020) and the first phase of Horizon Europe (2021-2023). It notably covers two Clusters under Horizon Europe: Cluster 5 (Climate, Energy, and Mobility) and Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture & Environment), sitting in Pillar II. Jointly, they represent 45% of the budget allocated to Pillar II, and 25.2% of the Horizon Europe total budget.
This evaluation study also assesses European Partnerships under the Framework
Programme with a legal obligation for evaluation (Joint Undertakings, knowledge and Innovation Communities, Art. 185 or 187 TFEU) active in Green Transition-related fields, as well as thematically relevant Missions and the JRC. Other Partnerships relevant for the Green Transition (Co-funded and Co-programmed European Partnerships) are taken into account as part of the evaluation of the thematic areas.
The evaluation was conducted between February 2023 and January 2024. A specific methodological approach was designed during the inception phase of the study, in agreement with the Steering Committee, using a mix of various data collection and data analysis tools such as bibliometrics, case studies, survey, benchmarking, etc. The different tools mobilised throughout the evaluation enabled the collection of evidence to answer the various evaluative questions considered.