Interim Evaluation of Austrian Regional Contact Points

01DESCRIPTION

A total of four so-called Regional Contact Points (in German: RKS) were established in the 1990s and were funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy, together with the respective Federal Provinces, since then. They were part of the Austrian support structure for the EU RTDI programmes since Austria joined the European Framework Programmes (FP). The aim of the RKS was to support researchers in the Austrian provinces, in order to optimise Austrian participation in EU programmes and to provide the best-possible support and advice for industry, science and public administration in this area.

By order of the former Federal Ministry of Science and Research, Technopolis carried out an interim evaluation of the RKS between December 2012 and March 2013, as provided by the RKS contracts. The aim of the evaluation was firstly to assess the services and the service delivery offered by the RKS in terms of their effectiveness and efficiency. Secondly, Technopolis was to develop recommendations regarding the future operation of the RKS, taking into account changes that could be anticipated at EU-level with regard to the various RTDI schemes. The time period analysed covers the years 2009 to 2012.

The evaluation report is available in German, with an Executive Summary in German and in English.