The contract is intended to provide the Commission, in particular JRC-IPTS, with services of an intellectual nature involving the collection, analysis and presentation of information that can be used in particular to support evidence-based policy making in the "knowledge triangle" in Europe. The knowledge triangle refers to research, education and innovation and their linkages, which are key drivers of growth as well as of a knowledge-based society. With regard to the education part of the triangle, the focus is on the area of higher education.

The estimated budget for 4 years is 10,000,000 €.

More concretely, the EWN members will provide the following services, covering about 45 countries:

• Collection of information: Information will need to be collected at EU Member State level and EU level as well as for Associated States and other research partners, in tune with the geographical scope of the ERAWATCH research inventory and its evolution.
• Structuring information in a format enabling its comparison across countries, regions, policy issues or scientific and technological areas.
• Monitoring relevant European, transnational, national and regional developments.
• Analysis of information, particularly in the form of comparative trans-national studies, and the production of syntheses focused on policy issues, their trends and the impacts of factors influencing them.
• Evaluation and assessment of the impacts of policies.
• Reporting and dissemination: reporting and disseminating the results of the above tasks in a format appropriate for those involved in policy-making, including joint scientific publications of service provider and JRC-IPTS.
• Organisation of research related workshops and conferences bringing together policy-makers, researchers and relevant stakeholders in fields related to the knowledge triangle.
• Peer-reviewing and scientific advice: reviewing the scientific quality of JRC-IPTS analytical products and contributing to the further development of ERAWATCH and of other JRC-IPTS activities through scientific advice.
• Processing information and managing knowledge in a format and supported by a technical system enabling its transfer to and display on Community websites or other publication format.