We believe the European Commission should review its funding mechanism and increase the success rates of its Call for proposals, states Ecsite in its response to a Public stakeholder consultation run for the Interim evaluation of Horizon 2020.

Suggestions include a 2-step selection process, increasing the number of proposals financed, repeating popular topics or promoting depth and width impact.

In terms of topics, Ecsite stated:
1) RRI should be maintained and reinforced;
2) Capacity-building of RRI-ready organisations should be further developed;
3) EU-level science engagement networks should be supported;
4) Post-projects dissemination grants should be made easily accessible,;
5) Science capital and different modes, means and places of learning should be promoted,
together with a further integration of learning ecosystems;
6) Young people deserve innovative approaches to science and technology learning;
7) Adults, including migrants and elderlies, should have more opportunities of engaging with
science and technology;
8) Democratic values should be promoted through science engagement;
9) A diversity agenda should be elaborated that would include girls and women as well as
minority groups;
10) RRI should be deployed to tackle climate change, energy consumption and biodiversity loss.

Download Ecsite's full statement below.