AGENZIA PER LA PROMOZIONE DELLA RICERCA EUROPEA

Their core work

APRE is Italy's leading agency for promoting European research participation, functioning as the national hub for Horizon 2020 National Contact Points (NCPs) across nearly every thematic area. They coordinate and professionalize NCP services — training advisors, organizing brokerage events, building cross-border networks, and helping Italian researchers and companies navigate EU funding. Their real value is as a bridge: they connect national research communities with EU programme opportunities through capacity building, communication campaigns, and transnational NCP cooperation networks. They also coordinate several pan-European NCP networks in energy, security, transport, and SME innovation.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2014–2017, APRE focused heavily on establishing and running NCP networks across H2020 pillars — training, networking, twinning, and sharing best practices were the dominant activities. By the later period (2018–2021), the emphasis shifted toward Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), public awareness raising, social media communication, and engagement with Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) and omics-related fields. This evolution reflects a maturation from pure programme support infrastructure toward thematic engagement and societal impact communication.

APRE is moving from back-office programme support toward front-facing science communication and responsible innovation engagement, making them increasingly relevant for projects needing public outreach and societal impact components.

How they like to work

APRE operates primarily as an active partner (52 of 72 projects) but has significant coordination experience (16 projects), especially in NCP network projects for energy, security, transport, and SME finance. With 666 unique partners across 61 countries, they function as a super-connector — few organizations in H2020 have this breadth of network. This makes them exceptionally easy to work with for consortium building, as they likely already have trusted relationships with potential partners in nearly any EU member state.

APRE has worked with 666 unique consortium partners across 61 countries, making them one of the most broadly connected organizations in H2020. Their network spans all EU member states and extends to key third countries including China, the US, and South Africa through dedicated bilateral cooperation projects.

What sets them apart

APRE is not a research performer — they are a research enabler. While most organizations in H2020 bring scientific or technical expertise, APRE brings the ability to mobilize, connect, and professionalize entire national research ecosystems. For any consortium needing a partner who can handle dissemination, NCP engagement, brokerage, training work packages, or Italian outreach, APRE is one of the most experienced choices in Europe. Their cross-sector coverage (energy, security, health, food, transport, digital, space) means they understand programme mechanics in virtually every H2020 thematic area.

Highlights from their portfolio

• RICH
  Their largest single grant (EUR 739,396) as coordinator — built the pan-European Research Infrastructures NCP consortium.
• ACCESS4SMES
  Coordinated the NCP cooperation network for SME innovation and risk finance (EUR 533,750), directly relevant to business-facing activities.
• C-ENERGY 2020
  Coordinated the energy NCP network, demonstrating their ability to lead thematic communities across multiple countries.