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Case Study

Final Assessment of M-ERA.NET 3

This case study highlights how our assessment of M‑ERA.NET 3 brought clarity, evidence and insight to a large and complex international research network. Drawing on data analysis, stakeholder input and real project experience, it shows what the network has delivered, how it has created value through collaboration, and how careful evaluation can inform better decisions about the future of research and innovation programmes.

Optimat delivered this project in partnership with Effie Amanatidou, an international expert in the evaluation of complex, European partnerships

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The study was commissioned at a pivotal point for the M‑ERA.NET network, as its third phase (2021–2026) was drawing to a close and discussions about future direction were underway. Since 2012, M‑ERA.NET has played a central role in coordinating national and regional funding for advanced materials research across Europe and beyond, supporting extensive transnational collaboration and mobilising significant public investment. Given the scale, maturity and international reach of the network, and its relevance to areas such as sustainable materials, clean energy and the circular economy, an independent, evidence‑based assessment was needed to clearly articulate what had been achieved and how the network had evolved.

Building on earlier evaluations of previous M‑ERA.NET phases, the study was designed not only to assess performance and impacts, but also to respond to emerging challenges in international research funding. These included demonstrating value for money, reducing fragmentation across national programmes, widening participation, and strengthening pathways from research to innovation and industrial uptake. With a strong forward‑looking perspective, the assessment examined both project‑level results and broader system effects, providing a solid foundation for learning, accountability and informed decisions about the future development of the network.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

Assess the effectiveness and efficiency of M-ERA.NET 3's calls, governance and network activities
Measure the impacts and European added value generated, including funding leverage, collaboration benefits and contributions to sustainability goals
Analyse participation, inclusiveness and international reach, including industry and SME engagement
Compare performance against other relevant Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe initiatives
Develop forward-looking recommendations to support improvement, growth and a potential future M-ERA.NET phase

Assess the effectiveness and efficiency of M-ERA.NET 3's calls, governance and network activities
Measure the impacts and European added value generated, including funding leverage, collaboration benefits and contributions to sustainability goals
Analyse participation, inclusiveness and international reach, including industry and SME engagement
Compare performance against other relevant Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe initiatives

Develop forward-looking recommendations to support improvement, growth and a potential future M-ERA.NET phase


OUR APPROACH

The study was delivered through a multi‑phase approach that combined quantitative analysis with qualitative insight. It drew on extensive secondary research, including programme documents, monitoring data, KPIs and comparative datasets, alongside primary research with key stakeholders including national and regional funding agencies within M-ERA.NET, project coordinators and European Commission representatives, and supported by a large‑scale online survey of project beneficiaries and unsuccessful applicants. Evidence was analysed using a mix of statistical analysis, comparative and longitudinal techniques, social network analysis and targeted case‑based exploration of impact pathways.

A strategy workshop was then attended by M-ERA.NET partners and the European Commission with interactive sense‑checking throughout with a project steering group. This ensured findings were robust, validated and forward‑looking, and capable of informing both accountability and future programme design.

DELIVERY TEAM

Deborah Creamer
Managing Director & Senior Consultant
About>
Hayley Welsh
Director & Senior Consultant
About>
Joginder Fagura
Senior Consultant
About>
Jolanta Beinaroviča
Senior Consultant
About>
Grace Crawford
Consultant
About>

External: AMANATIDOU

OUTPUTS AND IMPACTS

The assessment confirmed that M‑ERA.NET 3 operates as a mature and effective international research network, delivering strong scientific collaboration and sustained cross‑border partnerships. Its performance reflects a small number of core strengths that continue to address fragmentation in national funding and support access to international collaboration. These strengths were distilled as follows:

  • Trusted and professional governance
  • Efficient joint call and evaluation processes
  • Effective mobilisation of national and regional funding
  • Strong support for smaller, interdisciplinary mid‑TRL consortia
  • Opportunities for improvement

At the same time, the study identified opportunities to strengthen the network’s future impact. While scientific collaboration performs strongly, visibility, valorisation and links to industrial uptake remain uneven. The key priorities for improvement were identified as follows:

  • Strengthening external communication and success stories
  • Improving post‑project valorisation and SME engagement
  • Reducing operational friction where possible
  • Enhancing strategic positioning within the European partnerships landscape

Together, these priorities provide a clear evidence‑based platform for strengthening the next phase of M‑ERA.NET.

Read the full report here

Get in touch if you’d like to find out how we undertake robust and detailed evaluations of publicly funded innovation support programme and initiatives.

"The team impressed us with their professionalism and attention to detail. Communication was straightforward and cooperative at all times, and the analysis was carried out reliably. We were very satisfied."

Roland Brandenburg (M-ERA.NET Network Coordinator)
FFG-Austrian Research Promotion Agency

Deborah Creamer

Managing Director

I’m Deborah Creamer, the Managing Director of Optimat. I’m passionate about helping organisations and businesses make smarter, evidence-based decisions, especially when it comes to innovation, technology, and long-term growth.

I’ve been part of the Optimat team since 1998, specialising in strategic industrial analysis for high-tech sectors. Over the years, I’ve built up a deep understanding of what drives success in innovation and economic development, and I enjoy working with clients to turn data and insight into meaningful action.

I specialise in advanced materials and manufacturing and the industries in which they play a key role – ranging from aerospace to medical devices. My particular area of expertise is in funding for innovation, spanning a broad spectrum from evaluating R&D and innovation funding application to developing business cases for significant innovation assets in Scotland and the UK. I’ve supported many organisations to craft successful funding applications whether that is for a small R&D project or a state-of-the-art innovation centre and it’s incredibly rewarding to help secure the backing that great ideas need to become reality. Ibelieve in the power of innovation, collaboration, and practical thinking to create lasting impact, for businesses, industries, and communities.

Before joining Optimat, my career started in materials R&D and new product development, working with BP International and Bourns Electronics Inc. That hands on industry experience gave me a solid foundation in how technologies evolve and get to market.

I hold a BSc (Hons) in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, an MBA, and I’m a Chartered Engineer.

Hayley Welsh

Director & Senior Consultant

I’m Hayley Welsh, a Director and Senior Consultant at Optimat. I’ve been working in consultancy for more than 23 years, helping organisations make evidence-based decisions that drive growth, competitiveness and long-term success. My work spans both private and public sectors, from shaping strategies and policies to supporting companies with commercialisation and business planning.

Much of my experience lies in demand analysis, economic evaluation, market assessment and supply chain mapping. I’ve led projects that test market demand for new initiatives, benchmark performance to guide policy, and assess the impact of strategic investments in innovation and infrastructure. At the heart of my work is a focus on turning research and analysis into clear, practical outputs that clients can act on with confidence.

I have particular expertise in developing strategies and action plans, gathering and interpreting evidence, and engaging with stakeholders to build consensus. A big part of my role is bringing clarity to complexity, whether that’s translating research into recommendations, identifying opportunities for improvement, or ensuring that the evidence gathered directly supports decision-making.

I also bring strong project management skills, having coordinated large multi-stakeholder projects at both UK and European levels. I’m highly experienced in qualitative and quantitative research, from survey design and structured interviews to data analysis, and I take pride in communicating findings clearly and effectively to clients at all levels.

I hold a BA (Hons) in International Business and Modern Languages from the University of Strathclyde and an MBA from the Open University.

Joginder Fagura

Senior Consultant

I’m Joginder, a Senior Consultant at Optimat. I specialise in designing and delivering evidence-based economic development and sector growth strategies, working with public sector clients across the UK. My passion lies in translating complex evidence into practical recommendations that help organisations and industries make smarter investment and policy decisions.

I started my career in consultancy with Optimat in 2000. I’ve led and contributed to high-profile studies spanning advanced materials and manufacturing, clean energy industries, life sciences and medical devices. Much of my work has focused on mapping supply chains, identifying market opportunities, benchmarking international best practice, and shaping innovation ecosystems.

I particularly enjoy projects that bring industry, academia, and government together to explore how innovation can drive sustainable growth.

Prior to joining Optimat, I worked as a material scientist, designing bespoke, high-performance materials for demanding application. This practical grounding in industrial research and product development has been invaluable in understanding both the technical and commercial realities of innovation, enabling me to provide clients with advice that is both evidence-based and pragmatic.

I hold a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry from Brunel University and an MSc in Polymer Sciencefrom Lancaster University.

Jolanta Beinaroviča

Senior Consultant

I’m Jolanta, a Senior Consultant at Optimat, where I specialise in the life sciences sector, including pharmaceuticals, industrial biotechnology, medical technology, and digital health. Iam particularly interested in how these fields are shaped and enabled by emerging technologies.

My work focuses on supporting clients across industry and public sector to make informed, strategic decisions. I am passionate about techno-market research and forecasting, and I draw on a strong foundation in science and technology to help clients identify opportunities and build a competitive advantage to deliver economic and societal benefits.

Since joining Optimat in 2022, I have contributed to a wide range of projects, including targeted market research studies, industrial sector profiling, capability audits, commercial opportunity mapping, commercialisation planning, and skills and workforce forecasting. I also have significant experience in due diligence, having evaluated numerous R&D grant proposals across various funding mechanisms. Alongside this, I have supported clients with programme design and undertaken several project and programme evaluations.

Before Optimat, I worked as an R&D scientist in several engineering biology spinouts and also gained experience as a casual academic and medical writer. This background has given me a strong analytical skillset and deep insight into early-stage technology transfer and commercialisation, which I now apply to help clients develop robust, evidence-informedstrategies towards achieving their goals.

I hold a BSc (Hons) in Biotechnology & Biochemistry and a PhD in Synthetic Biology. I am currently pursuing an MBA (Technology Management), with the support of Optimat.

Grace Crawford

Consultant

I’m Grace, a consultant at Optimat. With an engineering background, I specialise in low carbon and renewable technologies, from established to more emerging industries including offshore wind, solar, energy storage and heat decarbonisation.

During my time at Optimat, I’ve been a part of a range of projects, building experience inskills analyses, due diligence, industry landscaping and benchmarking. I’ve further developed strong data analysis and interpretation skills, including database design and complex data modelling, enabling me to build robust datasets and perform in-depth analyses, generatingvaluable insights and informing strategic recommendations.

I’m passionate about how policy and innovation shape the journey to net zero, how it affects industry, the supply chain and individual consumers, within an ever-changing landscape.While my specialism lies in sustainability, I’ve had the opportunity to apply my skills across a range of sectors such as aerospace, leadership development, and innovation ecosystems.

Prior to joining Optimat I worked as a project engineer in the low carbon heat and energy industry, working on several complex public and private sector projects. This gave me an on-the-ground insight into the decarbonisation of heat and energy across a range of industries and has allowed me to bring that perspective to my role as consultant, with an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by stakeholders and the supply chain in the journey to net zero.

I hold a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Glasgow, and an MSc with Distinction in Sustainable Engineering from the University of Strathclyde.