Search for a command to run...
This document builds upon and completes the Open Call (OC) activities implemented within Work Package 7 (WP7), following the preparatory and execution phases documented in Deliverables D7.1 and D7.2. The first deliverable of Task 7, D7.1 describes the established foundational framework of the TrialsNet OC by defining its scope, objectives, eligibility conditions, legal and administrative procedures, evaluation criteria, and supporting technical material, thereby enabling third parties to prepare and submit high-quality proposals in alignment with the project’s goals. Subsequently, D7.2 documented the operational execution of the OC, including its official launch, extensive promotion and communication activities, applicant support mechanisms (such as webinars, helpdesk services, and feasibility checks), the structured proposal evaluation process, and the final selection and contracting of the funded sub-projects. In continuity with the activities reported above, D7.3 is focusing on the systematic monitoring, evaluation, and assessment of the funded sub-projects throughout their full implementation lifecycle. A key element underpinning the success of the TrialsNet OC was the supportive and collaborative approach adopted by the consortium towards the sub-projects. Beyond its formal monitoring and evaluation role, WP7 implemented a continuous assistance model aimed at maximising the technical quality, alignment, and impact of third-party activities. This included structured feasibility checks, regular technical interactions, monthly reports, review meetings, timely feedback on deliverables, and ongoing helpdesk support, allowing early identification of risks and deviations and enabling corrective actions to be taken proactively. Rather than acting solely as a control mechanism, the evaluation framework functioned as an enabling process, fostering integration of sub-projects within the TrialsNet ecosystem and ensuring consistency with project objectives. This experience directly impacted the consortium’s decisions on how to design, manage, and refine OC procedures, demonstrating that a support-oriented governance model is essential for achieving high-quality outcomes and for establishing a robust, fair, and replicable methodology for future Open Calls. In parallel with the internal OC activities, the TrialsNet consortium actively participated in the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) OC Task Force, contributing to cross-project coordination, exchange of best practices, and alignment with the broader SNS JU framework. This participation enabled TrialsNet to benchmark its OC design, evaluation procedures, and support mechanisms against other SNS JU initiatives, ensuring consistency with emerging programme-level recommendations. The insights gained through the Task Force informed several operational and governance decisions, particularly regarding applicant support, evaluation transparency, and monitoring practices, reinforcing the robustness, fairness, and replicability of the TrialsNet OC methodology. This engagement further strengthened the strategic positioning of the TrialsNet OC within the SNS JU ecosystem and enhanced its contribution to a harmonised European approach to third-party funding schemes.