This thematic workshop was part of a series of meetings organised as follow-up of the Common Strategic Framework for EU Research and Innovation Funding (Horizon 2020 - CSF) consultation, aiming at collecting further inputs and suggestions that could feed into the legislative proposal of the new programme for research and innovation. The topic was chosen to complement other workshops, e.g. on financial instruments, SME innovation or key enabling technologies.

The event was jointly managed by Directorate General Enterprise and Industry and Directorate General Research and Innovation. It brought together some 75 participants representing policy makers (from the Enterprise Policy Group subgroup on innovation and the European Research Area Committee), representatives of enterprises, business associations, research organisations and research and innovation support agencies.

The format of the workshop was interactive and based on the "Ritual Dissent" technique. The general problems for the EU in terms of innovation performance in a global perspective and the main overall results of the Green Paper consultation were recalled by Peter Dröll, Head of Unit for innovation policy in DG RTD:

• Strong support for bringing research and innovation together in a Common Strategic Framework.
• Simplification is a key priority for all stakeholders.
• All stages in the innovation cycle should be supported, with more attention for close to the market activities (e.g. demonstration, piloting).
• Continuity for the successful elements of current programmes, e.g. European Research Council, Marie Curie, collaborative research.
• EU funding should be tied closely to societal challenges and EU policy objectives (climate change, ageing, energy security,…).
• More openness and flexibility needed, less prescriptive calls, better use of bottom-up instruments (also in programme parts guided by clear policy objectives).