EU Research Platform Offers Design Patterns
A video on the EU's Horizon Results Platform showcases its design for surfacing research outcomes from funded projects. The platform uses a result-centric navigation model, foregrounding tangible outputs like datasets and tools rather than organizing content solely by project. This approach provides a valuable design pattern for grant management systems aiming to improve the visibility and reuse of scientific results.
- The Horizon Results Platform was launched in September 2019 to showcase "Key Exploitable Results" from EU-funded research, a mandate that is now legally embedded in the Horizon Europe funding program for 2021-2027. - Beneficiaries of funding from programs like Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe are obligated to disseminate their project results for up to four years after their project ends. - As of June 2023, the platform featured over 2,700 "Key Exploitable Results" and attracted around 5,000 visitors monthly, including investors and policymakers. - The platform is part of a wider "valorisation ecosystem" that includes partners like the European Business Angel Network and the Enterprise Europe Network to facilitate matchmaking between researchers and businesses. - The European Commission is actively developing a new version of the platform and in 2025 was seeking 20-25 experts for a Sounding Board to ensure its usability and effectiveness. - The platform is a key component of the Horizon Europe program, which has a total budget of €95.5 billion for the period of 2021-2027. - Beyond showcasing results, the platform provides matchmaking services, pitching events with investors, and assistance with business plan development at no cost to the beneficiaries. - The design of the platform serves a dual purpose: providing a channel for beneficiaries to gain visibility and a tool for the European Commission to gather insights from project outcomes to inform future policy.
