Research Executive Agency (2014-20)

This Commission implementing decision establishes the Research Executive Agency (REA). Based in Brussels, it seeks to maximise the efficiency and impact of EU research and innovation programmes.

ACT

Commission Implementing Decision 2013/778/EU of 13 December 2013 establishing the Research Executive Agency and repealing Decision 2008/46/EC.

SUMMARY

The REA coordinates calls for project proposals, ensures their evaluation and liaises with subsequent grant beneficiaries. It manages a large share of Horizon 2020 research and innovation projects, as well as some of the ongoing projects funded under the seventh framework programme (FP7). It also provides administrative and logistic support to Commission departments and executive agencies managing Horizon 2020 and FP7 projects and other programmes.

The REA's main tasks include:

• publishing calls for proposals for research and development (R & D) programmes;
• selection and contracting of independent experts to evaluate the proposals received;
• coordination of the evaluation of proposals;
• grant finalisation and grant signature with successful applicants;
• ongoing liaison with grant beneficiaries throughout the lifetime of their project.

The REA manages projects in the following fields of Horizon 2020:

• Excellent science
  • Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA) - research fellowship programme;
  • future and emerging technologies (FET Open) - ideas for new technologies, sometimes involving unconventional collaborations or new practices.
• Industrial leadership
  • space research.
• Societal challenges
  • food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy;
  • Europe in a changing world - inclusive, innovative and reflective societies;
  • secure societies.
• Specific objectives/cross-cutting themes
  • spreading excellence and widening participation;
  • science with and for society.

The REA makes a practical contribution to achieving the goals of the Innovation Union, a flagship EU initiative which is a part of Europe 2020, the EU's global strategy for growth and competitiveness.

RELATED ACTS

Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003 of 19 December 2002 laying down the statute for executive agencies to be entrusted with certain tasks in the management of Community programmes (Official Journal L 11, 16.1.2003, pp. 1-8).

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1653/2004 of 21 September 2004 on a standard financial regulation for the executive agencies pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003 laying down the statute for executive agencies to be entrusted with certain tasks in the management of Community programmes (Official Journal L 297, 22.9.2004, pp. 6-16).

Last updated: 06.11.2014